Biodegradable surgical implants and devices

Abstract

A surgical implant, device, or part thereof, made of biodegradable material for performing at least one function selected from the group consisting of supporting, joining and separating tissue and keeping open a tissue cavity. One biodegradable rod which is wound around a winding center into a helical configuration in a manner that between successive winds there is provided a space free of material of the biodegradable rod, and which is reinforced with biodegradable reinforcement element in a biodegradable matrix said reinforcement elements being oriented substantially in a longitudinal direction of the biodegradable rod.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A surgical implant comprising: a biodegradable material internally reinforced in a longitudinal direction having a helical configuration.  
     
     
         2 . The surgical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the internal reinforcement comprises elements selected from the group consisting of microfibrils and fibrils.  
     
     
         3 . The surgical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the internal reinforcement comprises elements selected from the group consisting of fibers, wires, braids, and ribbons.  
     
     
         4 . The surgical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the helical configuration includes a screw-threaded configuration.  
     
     
         5 . The surgical implant of  claim 1 , further comprising a second biodegradable material internally reinforced in a longitudinal direction having a second helical configuration, wherein the helical configuration and the second helical configuration are at least partially nested within each other.