The effect of fabric structure on the bursting characteristics of warp-knitted surgical mesh

Abstract

Surgical mesh is a porous fabric that is mainly produced from polymeric monofilaments using the warp-knitting method. Surgical mesh is used for healing hernia. Among the mechanical properties of the mesh, tensile and bursting strength have special significance. In this research, warp-knitted surgical meshes with five structures have been produced using polypropylene monofilament, and the effect of the fabric structure on the bursting characteristics of them has been investigated. All the meshes exhibited supraphysiologic bursting strength. quasi-Sandfly mesh demonstrated the highest, while quasi-Marqussite mesh exhibited the least bursting characteristics. The increase in the bursting characteristics of the meshes is attributed to the increase in the areal density and decrease in the porosity of them. Moreover, conformity between the bursting and tensile properties of them in bias direction has been observed. Overall, quasi-Marqussite mesh was proposed as the most desirable mesh in terms of porosity, weight, and bursting characteristics.

Keywords:

• Surgical mesh
• fabric structure
• polypropylene
• bursting characteristics
• hernia treatment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Amirkabir University of Technology (grant number: 40/1119).