The TephaFLEX Absorbable Suture is the first medical device derived from a new class of biopolymers that is the product of patented recombinant DNA technology. The TephaFLEX material has biological and mechanical properties that are uniquely suited for implantable medical devices.
TephaFLEX polymer is a member of a new class of biopolymers with mechanical and biological properties that are uniquely applicable to implantable medical devices when compared to conventional synthetic and biologically derived polymers. Compared to synthetic polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyglycolic acid (PGA), TephaFLEX material is tougher and more flexible with an absorption rate and degradation profile that are compatible with human tissue repair and replacement applications.
Unlike other biopolymers such as collagen and hyaluronate, TephaFLEX polymer is a thermoplastic and can be fabricated into virtually any shape or form — including fibers, films, tubes, foams, textiles, microspheres and molded constructs — using a wide range of conventional melt and solvent processing techniques.