title: Biomechanical performance of new vascular sutures and needles for use in polytetrafluoroethylene grafts.
abstract: Two new cardiovascular monofilament sutures attached to taper point needles have been developed for use in expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts.  One monofilament suture made of PTFE has a microporous structure that allows it to be channel swaged to a needle that closely approximates its suture diameter.  The other suture is a monofilament polypropylene suture that has been extruded to produce a tapered swage end, which was significantly smaller than that of the remainder of the suture in order to be channel swaged to smaller diameter needles. On the basis of comprehensive biomechanical performances, the performance of the new needle suture products with needle/suture diameter ratios approaching 1:1 was superior to needle suture products with 2:1 needle/suture diameter ratios for use in PTFE vascular grafts, regardless of the suture material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Towler
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Tribble
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Pavlovich
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Milam
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Edlich
mesh_terms: D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D009339:Needles; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D013537:Sutures; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures