Implantable Textile Medical Devices
topic
Implantable textile devices are permanently or temporarily placed inside the human body to restore, replace, or support physiological function, manufactured from biocompatible fibres meeting ISO 10993 biological evaluation requirements. Vascular grafts use woven or knitted PET (Dacron) or ePTFE tubular structures (diameter 6–30 mm, wall thickness 0.3–0.8 mm) with crimped geometry providing compliance of 1–3%/100 mmHg matching native artery. Hernia repair meshes (PP monofilament, knitted, pore size 1–3 mm, basis weight 30–100 g/m²) provide burst strength >16 N/cm (ISO 7198) for abdominal wall reinforcement — 1 million hernia mesh implants annually in USA alone. Ligament and tendon prostheses use braided UHMWPE (Dyneema) or PET yarns (tensile strength 2,000–4,000 N) for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Bioresorbable scaffolds from PGA, PLA, or PCL fibres (electrospun, 200–600 nm diameter) degrade over 3–24 months, supporting tissue ingrowth for cartilage, bone, and vascular tissue engineering. Surface modifications (heparin coating 1–5 µg/cm², silver 50–200 ppm) reduce thrombosis and infection risk in vascular and orthopaedic implants.
Role
Implantable textile devices restore life-critical physiological functions — blood circulation, structural integrity, and organ support — in patients with cardiovascular disease, hernia, and orthopaedic injuries, representing the highest-value and most regulated segment of the global meditech industry.