SUTURE COATING MATERIALS
SUTURE COATING MATERIALS
It is preferred to use coating materials with chemical properties similar to the suture to be used. From this point of view, it is of great importance that the suture is absorbable or nonabsorbable in the selection of the coating material. Materials such as Poloxamer 188 and calcium stearate can be used as absorbable suture coatings. Coating materials such as wax, silicon, fluorocarbon can be used as suture coating which cannot be absorbed.
Sutures can be dyed during surgery to see the sutures easily. A dye material or coating must be FDA approved for use in the production of sutures. Some permitted dyes are: logwood extract, chromium-cobalt-aluminum oxide, ferric ammonium citrate, pirogalol, D & C Blue No. 9, D & C Blue No. 6, D & C Green No. 5 and D & C Green No. 6. Suture needles are made.
Surgical needles can be manufactured from stainless steel or carbon steel and can be nickel-plated, silicon-plated or electroplated. For product safety, packaging material should include waterproof foil, such as aluminum foil.