Prosthetic device and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A biocompatible surgical silk mesh prosthetic device employs a knit pattern that substantially prevents unraveling and preserves the stability of the mesh device, especially when the mesh device is cut. An example prosthetic device employs a knitted mesh including at least two yarns laid in a knit direction and engaging each other to define a plurality of nodes. The at least two yarns include a first yarn and a second yarn extending between and forming loops about two nodes. The second yarn has a higher tension at the two nodes than the first yarn. The second yarn substantially prevents the first yarn from moving at the two nodes and substantially prevents the knitted mesh from unraveling at the nodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of knitting an implantable surgical mesh comprising:
 knitting a first yarn in a jersey stitch in a course direction,   tucking at spaced needle positions a second yarn in a loop formed by the jersey stitch of the first yarn to lockingly engage the yarns in place in a manner that substantially deters disengagement of the yarns from each other when tension is applied to the fabric when the fabric mesh is cut, wherein the first and second yarns are differentially engaged according to differential physical properties.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one yarn is silk. 
     
     
         3 . A method of using an implantable surgical mesh, the method comprising:
 providing a fabric comprised of at least two yarns differentially engaging each other in a defined pattern to form a plurality of interconnections at each of which the yarns lockingly engage in a manner that substantially deters disengagement of the yarns from each other when tension is applied to the fabric when the fabric mesh is cut, and   implanting the fabric mesh in a human body.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the defined pattern provides a plurality of openings to promote tissue in-growth. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one yarn is silk. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the fabric is a knit. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein at least two of the yarns are knitted in opposing stitch patterns.