WARWICK, R.I. — May 8, 2012 — Biomedical Structures LLC (BMS), a developer of biomedical textiles
for medical devices and other advanced clinical applications, today announced its advanced new
tapered medical textile solution for tendons, ligaments and other orthopedic applications. BMS’
advanced weaving capabilities provide a high-precision medical textile solution able to match human
anatomical construction of tendons and replicate performance.
Complementing BMS’ current tapering and bifurcation capabilities for very fine fabrics, the
new weaving techniques allow for the creation of more lifelike structures that imitate natural
tendon and ligament performance better than ever before. BMS shapes bio-absorbable and permanent
fibers to resemble the human anatomy of tendons by developing precise dimensions and load-bearing
performance characteristics within a functional shape that mirrors natural geometries. For
tendon/ligament repair applications that require sutured tissue and subsequent re-growth of natural
cells to replace the damage, this textile engineering approach has the power to enable a new class
of implant solutions.
BMS’ high-precision medical textile R&D and advanced new weaving equipment for synthetic
polymers, including fibers such as polyester, UHMWPE, PLLA and more, are behind this capability,
which enables enhanced strength and flexibility of even the finest fibers for a new level of
combined durability and natural movement. For artificial tendons and other orthopedic repair
applications, this protection against stretch and control of tempered movement is extremely
important to successful recovery and sustained performance over time. Recent figures cite nearly 32
million repetitive and traumatic tendon/ligament injuries reported annually, a figure expected to
increase as the population ages, and current synthetic replacements available are limited.
“BMS’ continual investment in cutting-edge equipment designed to enhance our biomedical
textile production capabilities has delivered in a transformative way for device engineers looking
to the next-generation solution for orthopedic repair,” said BMS CEO Dean Tulumaris. “Medical
device OEMs will now be able to create synthetic tendon and ligament repair structures that match
human anatomy more closely than ever before. As we marry our expertise in tapering very fine fibers
for cardiovascular applications with deep experience in orthopedic reconstruction and repair device
support, we are excited to bring this breakthrough capability to the market.”
BMS will exhibit its artificial tendon technology and other medical textile capabilities at
Booth #1350 at MD&M East in Philadelphia from May 21-24. The company’s full expertise includes
knitting, braiding, weaving, and non-woven technology utilizing a broad array of biocompatible
absorbable and non-absorbable materials for devices, drug delivery and surgical systems in
orthopedics, cardiology, bariatrics, cosmetic surgery and veterinary medicine.
Posted on May 15, 2012
Source: BMS
