THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURE OF POLYMERIC ENDOPROSTHETIC MESHES FOR THE SURGERY OF SOFT TISSUES

Abstract ‘Esfil’ endoprosthetic meshes made of polypropylene monofilaments, ‘Eslan’made of lavsan multifilaments and ‘Ftorex’ made of lavsan multifilaments with waterproofing fluoropolymer coating have been developed and manufactured for the plasty of soft supporting tissues after tumour resection and herniotomies, by damage to the abdominal wall and the diaphragm and in other surgical procedures. ‘Esfil’ polypropylene endoprostheses are biologically inert and resist the action of tissue fluids. The hydrophoby and solidity of the threads prevent the meshes from becoming infected. Prompt spreading of the fibroblasts along the filaments promotes the reparation of soft tissues. The ‘Eslan’ meshes are substantially softer and can be used when so-called ‘gentle’ implants are required. However, the capillarity of lavsan filaments may cause wound infections. The ‘Ftorex’ prostheses do not suffer from this disadvantage, due to impregnation of the pores between multifilaments with fluoropolymer. At the same time, the manipulation properties of the prostheses remain stable and their biocompatibility and bioresistance increase. Physico-mechanical, medical, biological and clinical tests allowed us to determine the optimal knitting structures of the endoprostheses we developed.