Mesh implant with an interlocking knitted structure

Abstract

A resorbable polymeric mesh implant is provided for use in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. The mesh implant is provided with an interlocking knitted structure comprising two or more sets of fibers with different times of degradation, allowing a stepwise increase in the relative distension of the overall mesh over time. The filamentous fibers are knitted together, wherein the filaments of the first set of fibers are interlaced into the filaments of the second set of fibers and at least partly traverse the knit pattern of the second set of fibers such that the filaments of the first set of fibers lock the movement of the part of the mesh formed by the second set of fibers.

1 . A resorbable polymeric mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects, comprising:
 a first arrangement of resorbable material comprising fibers; and   a second arrangement of resorbable material comprising fibers, the second arrangement of resorbable material being substantially degradable at a later point in time than the first arrangement of resorbable material,   wherein the first arrangement of resorbable material is in contact with the second arrangement of resorbable material such that the first arrangement of resorbable material locks movement of the second arrangement of resorbable material by traversing apertures of the second arrangement of resorbable material to maintain relative distension of the mesh implant substantially constant following a time of implantation and until the first arrangement of resorbable material is substantially degraded,   wherein after the first arrangement of resorbable material is substantially degraded, the relative distension of the mesh implant substantially increases,   wherein the first arrangement of resorbable material comprises one or more synthetic polymers made from one or more of the monomers glycolide, lactide and all stereoisomers thereof, trimethylene carbonate, e-caprolactone, dioxanone or dioxepanone, or various combinations thereof, and   wherein the second arrangement of resorbable material comprises one or more synthetic polymers made from one or more of the monomers glycolide, lactide and all stereoisomers thereof, trimethylene carbonate, e-caprolactone, dioxanone or dioxepanone, or various combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the first arrangement of resorbable material comprises a copolymer of glycolide, lactide, and trimethylene carbonate. 
     
     
         3 . A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the second arrangement of resorbable material comprises a copolymer of lactide and trimethylene carbonate. 
     
     
         4 . A resorbable polymeric mesh implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the first arrangement of resorbable material comprises a copolymer of glycolide, lactide, and trimethylene carbonate, and wherein the second arrangement of resorbable material comprises a copolymer of lactide and trimethylene carbonate. 
     
     
         5 . A resorbable polymeric mesh implant for use in reconstruction of soft tissue defects, comprising:
 a first arrangement of resorbable material comprising fibers; and   a second arrangement of resorbable material comprising fibers, the second arrangement of resorbable material being substantially degradable at a later point in time than the first arrangement of resorbable material,   wherein the first arrangement of resorbable material is in contact with the second arrangement of resorbable material such that the first arrangement of resorbable material locks movement of the second arrangement of resorbable material by traversing apertures of the second arrangement of resorbable material to maintain relative distension of the mesh implant substantially constant following a time of implantation and until the first arrangement of resorbable material is substantially degraded,   wherein after the first arrangement of resorbable material is substantially degraded, the relative distension of the mesh implant substantially increases,   wherein the first arrangement of resorbable material comprises one or more synthetic polymers made from various aliphatic polyurethanes, comprising polyureaurethanes, polyesterurethanes, and polycarbonateurethanes, or polymers made from polyphosphazenes or polyorthoesters, and   wherein the second arrangement of resorbable material comprises one or more synthetic polymers made from various aliphatic polyurethanes, comprising polyureaurethanes, polyesterurethanes, and polycarbonateurethanes, or polymers made from polyphosphazenes or polyorthoesters.