VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG VON NAHTMATERIAL MIT VERBESSERTER KNOTENFESTIGKEIT

A process for improving the knot tensile strength of a braided suture while maintaining its first throw holding characteristics includes the steps of applying a biocompatible co-polymer to the braided suture and then heating the suture to a temperature above the flow point of the co-polymer. An outer coat is applied to the suture after the heating step. The suture may be scoured with a solvent before the co-polymer is applied or the co-polymer may be applied simultaneously with the scouring step. The co-polymer preferably comprises one or more lactones, more preferably, ELEMENT -caprolactone and glycolide. This process may be used with bioabsorbable sutures, such as those comprising filaments made of polyglycolide and polylactide.