Testing of woven material
Woven structures are increasingly making their way into medical devices. Ligament and tendon replacements, surgical mesh for hernias, vascular grafts, and composite structures all make use of weaving technology using polymeric fibers. Proper characterization of the woven system can help ensure it will be the load requirements of the final application. Common testing, beyond biocompatibility, include characteristics of the mesh architecture itself, such as mesh thickness, pore size, mesh density, and characteristics of the weave. Mechanical testing includes tensile, tear, stiffness, burst strength, and suture pull out resistance. For newer polymer systems, elution characteristics of the polymer may necessary, along with an assessment of the response of the material to the environment in which it is placed (e.g. gastric, blood, fat, etc.). While similar to basic polymer testing, the macrostructure of these devices requires some modification to standard mechanical tests. Contact Cambridge Polymer Group for assistance in your woven material testing.