General Surgery Solutions

Sutures and Suture Assemblies:
Sutures are frequently used in general surgery, most notably for tissue repair and approximation. But, they can also play a role in stabilization and fixation, actuation, component assembly and even device delivery, especially in minimally invasive surgeries. ATEX Technologies engineers custom suture configurations that deliver very specific physical and performance attributes critical to successful device performance throughout its designated lifespan. Sutures can be constructed in two primary formats: as monofilament sutures and as multifilament braided structures, with and without coatings. The clinical application and surgery type will determine which format should be used. In addition to providing sutures in cut lengths or on spools, we can also attach your preferred surgical needle thereby creating suture assemblies engineered precisely to meet required needle attachment strength criteria. By leveraging our custom braiding technology, we are able to configure braids that cover the standard USP size range, and more. We are able to incorporate our proprietary UHMWPE, and LCP fibers along with our in-house extruded PET into our suture to provide just the right tensile strength, elongation, surface characteristics and visibility. By intermingling disparate materials we can improve visibility of the component during surgery and impart very specific handling and performance criteria.
Cables and Tethers:
Similar to sutures, braided cables and tethers are complex braided yarns that are used for applications that require significant strength or load bearing capability. Cables and tethers are often made with high strength materials such as UHMWPE or a mixture of UHMWPE and PET or PET and LCP and can be braided in a round or flat tape pattern. In addition, cables and tethers can be made with a terminal bifurcation or even loops to facilitate even greater ease of use. Often used to stabilize structures and add strength to damaged tissue after a major repair (as seen in an allograft placement or fracture repair). Polymeric cables can be used to safely hold structures in place while healing takes hold. High strength cables and tethers can also be used as actuation cables in deployment devices or short term implantables.


Surgical Mesh:
Surgical mesh is typically a flat, open textile used to reinforce tissue or bone. Mesh can also play a role in promoting healing by allowing for cellular ingrowth. Surgical meshes can be made from woven or knit fabric, the choice of which is dependent on the application and the particular performance and physical features the material will need to exhibit. ATEX Technologies can manufacture mesh using our own proprietary PET (polyester) or with other materials including bioresorbables. Although surgical mesh is often used in flat cloth or ribbon-like configurations, it can also be engineered in the form of a tube. This format is often used in stabilization applications.
Scaffolds:
Tissue scaffolds are textiles that act as matrices for cellular growth and are critically important in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Scaffolds, made from polymeric material, provide a framework that cells can attach to and proliferate. Commonly associated with non-wovens, the unique patterns of the scaffold structure can be engineered to be highly attractive to anchor-dependent cells. At ATEX, we can control the shape, elasticity, rigidity and surface characteristics of the scaffold so that we can optimize the matrix for specific cell growth requirements.


Pledgets:
One of ATEX Technologies’ newest offerings, pledgets play a supporting role in wound management along with surgical sutures and suture assemblies. These non-woven felt pads act as tissue supports, protecting underlying tissue from the tension of the suture because it tends to distribute the tension of the suture across its surface. In addition, the pledget itself allows for optimal tightening of the suture. Pledgets at ATEX can be fully customized and can be manufactured from our proprietary PET and PTFE fibers intended specifically for use in medical applications.
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