Recubrimientos para la fabricación y la aplicación de dispositivos médicos de polihidroxialcanoato

Un dispositivo médico, en donde el dispositivo se ha formado a partir de una fibra monofilamento que comprende polímero de polihidroxialcanoato recubierto con un acabado de hilatura que comprende Tween® 20, y en donde después de que se haya formado el dispositivo, el dispositivo se limpia para eliminar el Tween® 20 dejando un nivel residual de Tween® 20 en la fibra monofilamento de menos del 0,5 por ciento en peso. Biocompatible coatings and spin finishes that can be applied to polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers, and medical devices made from PHA polymers, have been developed. The coatings impart good lubricity to PHA polymers, particularly to fibers and braids made from these materials, making the coatings ideal for use on medical devices such as PHA braided sutures. The spin finishes can be applied to PHA fibers to facilitate their manufacture, and also for their conversion to other products, including medical textiles. The spin finishes serve to protect multifilament fiber bundles, and keep them intact following extrusion, and also to impart lubricity to the fiber bundles and monofilament fibers so that they are not damaged in subsequent processing steps particularly in textile processing. The coating reduces tissue drag of, for example, braided sutures.