Method for producing a prosthesis for reinforcing the abdominal wall

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a prosthesis comprising a knitted structure made in one piece, in which method a knit ( 1 ) comprising a base sheet ( 2 ) and a succession of perpendicular folds ( 3 ) is produced in a single knitting step, and said knit ( 1 ) is then cut on each side of said folds ( 3 ) in order to obtain said knitted structure.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An implantable prosthesis for reinforcing an abdominal wall comprising a one-piece generally T-shaped knit structure, the knit structure comprising a base portion, which is substantially plane and flexible and at least one fold portion which is flexible and extending substantially perpendicular from a first face of said base portion, wherein the generally T-shape is without a discontinuity between the base portion and the at least one fold portion of the knit structure. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the base portion and the fold portion of the generally T-shaped knit structure comprise at least a first and second biocompatible yarn. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second biocompatible yarns comprise a bioabsorbable material selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), oxidized cellulose, polycaprolactone (PCL), polydioxanone (PDO), trimethylene carbonate (TMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polyamides, polyesters, copolymers thereof, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second biocompatible yarns comprise a non-bioabsorbable material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides, aramids, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), polybutyl esters, PEEK (polyether ether ketone), polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 7 , wherein the base portion further comprises at least a third biocompatible yarn which connects a first part of the base portion to a second part of the base portion across the fold portion. 
     
     
         11 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein the third biocompatible yarn comprises a bioabsorbable material selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), oxidized cellulose, polycaprolactone (PCL), polydioxanone (PDO), trimethylene carbonate (TMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polyamides, polyesters, copolymers thereof, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein the third biocompatible yarn comprises a non-bioabsorbable material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides, aramids, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), polybutyl esters, PEEK (polyether ether ketone), polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the knit structure comprises a plurality of folds. 
     
     
         14 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of folds are spaced apart at uniform intervals across the knit structure. 
     
     
         15 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the knit structure is sufficiently flexible to be folded back upon itself. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third biocompatible yarns is a monofilament. 
     
     
         17 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third biocompatible yarns is a multifilament. 
     
     
         18 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein the first, second, and third biocompatible yarns are each a monofilament. 
     
     
         19 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 18 , wherein the monofilament of the third biocompatible yarn has a mean diameter greater than a mean diameter each of the monofilaments of first and second biocompatible yarns. 
     
     
         20 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 19 , wherein the mean diameter of the monofilament of the third biocompatible yarn is 150 μm. 
     
     
         21 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 19 , wherein the mean diameter of each of the monofilaments of the first and second biocompatible yarns is 80 μm. 
     
     
         22 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 18 , wherein the first, second, and third biocompatible yarns comprise polylactic acid (PLA). 
     
     
         23 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 18 , wherein the first, second, and third biocompatible yarns comprise polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     
     
         22 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the knit structure is thermoset. 
     
     
         23 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 6 , further comprising an anti-adhesion coating on a second face of the base portion opposite the first face of the base portion. 
     
     
         24 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 23 , wherein the anti-adhesion coating is a bioabsorbable film. 
     
     
         25 . The implantable prosthesis of  claim 24 , wherein the bioabsorbable film comprises collagen.