Tungsten-rhenium suture needles with improved properties for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Tungsten-rhenium suture needles with improved properties for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials (2010-06-25)

Frank R Cichocki, Robert E Maurer, S Neil Bar

PMID20574974

ABSTRACT

Suture needles are essential instruments for performing blood vessel anastomosis in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries. Exceptional needle performance is needed now as never before because of the increasing prevalence of elderly patients with advanced stages of coronary disease and calcified tissue. The various properties that affect the performance of suture needles used in CABG surgery are reviewed and recent progress towards improving needle performance through the use of tungsten-rhenium alloys and novel lubricous needle coatings is presented. Substantial enhancement of properties beyond those exhibited by commercially available stainless steel suture needles has been made, including an approximate 40% increase in strength, 100% increase in stiffness, and superior multiple pass penetration performance in both synthetic rubber media and human cadaver carotid arteries (p < 0.01).

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

356972

Sigma-Aldrich

Tungsten, wire, diam. 0.5 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

267562

Sigma-Aldrich

Tungsten, wire, diam. 1.0 mm, 99.99% trace metals basis

357421

Sigma-Aldrich

Tungsten, powder, ≤10 μm, ≥99.99% trace metals basis

357197

Sigma-Aldrich

Tungsten, foil, thickness 0.127 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

357189

Sigma-Aldrich

Tungsten, foil, thickness 0.5 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

267554

Sigma-Aldrich

Tungsten, wire, diam. 0.25 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

GF43193022

Tungsten, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.0125mm, 99.95%

GF35718992

Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.0125mm, 99.95%

GF09155774

Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.007mm, 99.95%

GF56310870

Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.009mm, 99.95%

GF46730516

Tungsten, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.075mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF04424891

Tungsten, insulated wire, 50m, conductor diameter 0.025mm, insulation thickness 0.005mm, polyimide insulation, 99.9%

GF53198354

Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.95%

GF71405940

Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.95%

GF64262033

Tungsten, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.075mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF90763072

Tungsten, rod, 100mm, diameter 16mm, centerless ground, 99.95%

GF75582704

Tungsten, wire reel, 1000m, diameter 0.125mm, clean, 99.95%

GF65635397

Tungsten, insulated wire, 20m, conductor diameter 0.025mm, insulation thickness 0.005mm, polyimide insulation, 99.9%

GF52333499

Tungsten, rod, 50mm, diameter 12.0mm, centerless ground, 99.95%

GF93618186

Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.008mm, 99.95%

GF76383579

Tungsten, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.02mm, 99.95%

GF59092465

Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.005mm, 99.95%

GF25747397

Tungsten, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.009mm, 99.95%

GF85410660

Tungsten, rod, 200mm, diameter 12.0mm, centerless ground, 99.95%

GF99976572

Tungsten, rod, 1000mm, diameter 2.0mm, centerless ground, 99.95%

GF93007818

Tungsten, mesh, 100x100mm, nominal aperture 0.15mm, wire diameter 0.02mm, 150 wires/inch, open area 75%, plain weave mesh, 99.95%

GF14930456

Tungsten, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.95%

GF96225486

Tungsten, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.05mm, as rolled, 99.95%

GF69284010

Tungsten, insulated wire, 5m, conductor diameter 0.015mm, insulation thickness 0.002mm, polyimide insulation, 99.9%

GF38415023

Tungsten, rod, 500mm, diameter 10.0mm, centerless ground, 99.95%