Influence of suture size on the frictional performance of surgical suture evaluated by a penetration friction measurement approach

• Published in: Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials 2018-04, Vol.80, p.171-179
• Main Authors: Zhang, Gangqiang, Zeng, Xiangqiong, Su, Yibo, Borras, F.X., de Rooij, Matthijn B., Ren, Tianhui, van der Heide, Emile
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Normal force; Penetration contact model; Penetration friction; Skin substitute; Surgical suture
• ISSN: 1751-6161; 1878-0180
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2018.02.003

The frictional performances of surgical sutures have been found to play a vital role in their functionality. The purpose of this paper is to understand the frictional performance of multifilament surgical sutures interacting with skin substitute, by means of a penetration friction apparatus (PFA). The influence of the size of the surgical suture was investigated. The relationship between the friction force and normal force was considered, in order to evaluate the friction performance of a surgical suture penetrating a skin substitute. The friction force was measured by PFA. The normal force applied to the surgical suture was estimated based on a Hertzian contact model, a finite element model (FEM), and a uniaxial deformation model (UDM). The results indicated that the penetration friction force increased as the size of the multifilament surgical suture increased. In addition, when the normal force was predicted by UDM, it was found that the ratio between the friction force and normal force decreased as the normal force increased. A comparison of the results suggested that the UDM was appropriate in predicting the frictional behavior of surgical suturing. [Display omitted] •Influence of surgical suture sizes on the frictional performance is investigated.•Normal force applied to the surgical suture is estimated by three different models.•Relationship between friction force and normal force is considered.•New penetration friction apparatus (PFA) for surgical suture is used.