Artificial Ligaments: Characteristics, Raw Materials & Joint Applications
Md. Mehedi Hasan Shibli
Department of Textile Engineering
Northern University Bangladesh
Email: shibli121@yahoo.com
Artificial Ligaments:
An artificial ligament is a medical device and the purpose of an artificial ligament to join ends of two bones. It is a great invention of advanced medical textiles. Artificial ligament is one of the major applications of biomaterials. The requirements of an artificial ligament are extensive and it must have at least three important properties, such as high tensile strength, high elongation, and right stiffness, to match the compliance of a normal ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament).
Some features of artificial ligaments are given below:
- The artificial ligaments are made from man-made fibers like polyester.
- The usage of the ligament varies based on type of operation.
- The artificial ligaments are generally subject to a lot of wear and tear.
- They also carry a risk of septic arthritis.
Characteristics of Artificial Ligaments:
- Ligament is a multilayered or tubular woven structure having intra-particular region, at least one bend region and end regions.
- Each region is woven so as to possess the required elasticity and strength.
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is mainly used for manufacturing artificial ligament.
- The artificial ligament must be bio-compatible with contact blood and tissue.
- Artificial ligament should have good bonding strength.
Raw Materials of Artificial Ligaments:
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
- Polyester
- Silk
- PTFE
- Multi filaments are mainly used to make artificial ligament
Technology Used in Artificial Ligaments:
- Braiding
Manufacturer of Artificial Ligaments:
- LARS ligament company (France)
- L. Gore & Associates Inc. (USA)
- Henan Hongrui Medical Devices Co. Ltd (China)
- ATLAS group co. ltd (Turkey)
- LA SANY international (India)
Artificial Ligaments for Joint Applications:
These artificial ligaments, and the associated methods for attachment of them to both natural and artificial bones, will provide major advantages to patients, physicians, and health care institutions by providing an attractive alternative to cadaver allografts as well as autografts harvested from the patient’s own tissue.
For many patients the strength of a cadaver allograft, which is commonly used for example in an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair of the knee, is not adequate for them to return to the high demand sports that they love. In addition, these grafts carry a small risk of disease transmission. Autografts harvested from the patient’s own patellar tendon and hamstring tendon are stronger than cadaver grafts, but carry the disadvantage of having to cut into healthy tendon elsewhere in the patient’s body, and increased surgical pain. An artificial ligament that is stronger than native ligament is a much needed and welcome alternative.
Surgeons will find the press fit anchor system extremely easy to install, which will save them time and effort in the operating room, and increase the success rates of their repairs.
Health care institutions and insurance providers will appreciate the potentially low cost, and higher success rates of these alternatives.
In addition to their use in repairing tendon and ligament injuries, such as the ACL or Achilles tendon, these artificial ligaments can be used for stabilizing and supporting artificial prosthetic joints, which will enhance their strength and durability. Currently there is no artificial ligament or tendon on the market, so there effectively is no competition.
Some of the variations shown in the patent can also be used to anchor hardware to bone, such as fracture plates or prosthetic joints.
References:
- Handbook of technical textiles, Second edition Volume 2: Technical Textile Applications Edited by A. Richard Horrocks, Subhash C. Anand
- Handbook of medical textiles Edited by V. T. Bartels
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Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. Mr. Kiron is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.
