Composite bioabsorbable materials and surgical articles made therefrom

摘要

The present invention relates to composite materials having a core portion 25 formed from a first bioabsorbable material and at least one shell portion 35, 38 of a second bioabsorbable material joined to the core portion. The first and second bioabsorbable materials have different rates of bioabsorption. In a preferred embodiment, the core portion is coextruded with the shell portion to form a composite filament or sheet. The materials of the present invention may be used as sutures or formed into medical devices or surgical articles for implantation within a living organism.