Orthopedic and Robotic Surgery Solutions
High Strength Braided Suture and Tapes:
Braided Sutures and Tapes are some of the most critical products used in orthopedics and device assembly. Braided Sutures and Tapes can be made from either monofilament or multifilament polymer yarns or metal wires. The choice of which should be used is highly dependent upon the clinical application and surgery type. ATEX Technologies creates custom braid configurations that can achieve very specific performance and physical attributes needed in a final product. By using our custom braiding technology, we can configure braids that cover the standard USP size range, and more. In addition to a wide range of sizes and configurations that can be created, ATEX Technologies is able to mix material types to give the finished product unique elongation and creep characteristics. In particular, we are able to incorporate our proprietary UHMWPE and LCP fibers into the design as well as our in-house extruded PET in ways that provide just the right tensile strength, elongation and visibility. In addition to providing either cut or spooled length braids, we can also attach your preferred needle creating suture assemblies that will also meet required needle attachment strength criteria. Other applications for High Strength Braided Cables and Tapes include use in suture anchor systems and in spinal alignment.
Cables and Tethers:
Similar to sutures, and braids, cables and tethers are complex braided yarns that are used for applications that require significant strength or load bearing capability. Often used to stabilize structures and add strength to damaged tissue after a major repair as seen in an allograft placement, tendon and ligament repair, joint replacement, and fracture repair. Often associated with a technique known as Cerclage fixation, polymer cables can be used to hold structures in place safely to allow for healing. Cables and tethers are often made with high strength materials such as UHMWPE or a mixture of UHMWPE and PET and can be braided in a round or flat tape pattern. With the use of UHMWPE and LCP fibers, braided cables and tethers are also playing a role in delivery system application and even in surgical robotics. Cables and tethers can be made as a straight construction as well as with a terminal bifurcation or even loops to facilitate even greater ease of use.
Surgical Meshes and Patches:
Surgical mesh is typically a flat, open construction textile often used to reinforce bone or tissue and can play a role in promoting healing by allowing for cellular in-growth. Surgical meshes can be knits or weaves, the choice of which is dependent on the application and the particular performance and physical features required. ATEX Technologies can manufacture mesh using our own proprietary PET 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.
Artificial Tendons, ligaments and Biomimics:
Woven polymers can be excellent tools to create an artificial tendon or other connective tissue replacement or repair, allowing for both strength and flexibility. Since ligaments are bands of durable and resilient flexible fibrous tissue, textiles lend themselves nicely to taking their place when they are damaged or torn. Artificial tendons can be manufactured from a wide variety of biocompatible materials including PET and UHMWPE as well as some long-lasting bioresorbable materials.
Soft Tissue Fixation:
In the sports medicine market soft tissue fixation products are often used in the repair and reconstruction of soft tissue injuries in the shoulders, knees, hips, and extremities. Soft tissue repair devices often include the use of high strength braided sutures and anchors to reattach soft tissue to bone. Soft tissue fixation devices can use either braided suture tape or round braided sutures. UHMWPE is a frequently used polymer for these braided suture tapes and braided round sutures. Suture buttons are also used in soft tissue repair. Using various methods of continuous loops and attachment sutures using UHMWPE for soft tissue repair, suture buttons are often used for ACL reconstruction.
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