Absorv™ is our family of bioabsorbable extrusions consisting of tubing, oriented tubing, monofilament, drawn fiber, and oriented and non-oriented ribbon. Absorv™ products are made from absorbable synthetic polyesters, including poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), poly(glycolide) (PGA), poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL), polydioxanone (PDO), and others. These polymers offer a baseline for the design of copolymers, terpolymers, and blends with mechanical properties and absorption profiles tailored to meet the demands of specifical medical applications.
Tubing & Oriented Tubing
Like all of our bioabsorbable products, Absorv™ tubing is capable of safely existing in the body for controlled lengths of time before being absorbed and eliminated naturally. Thanks to this finite functionality, Absorv™ tubing is particularly well-suited for controlled drug release applications where highly targeted and localized treatment is crucial.
Absorv™ XSE oriented tubing takes our Absorv™ tubing to the next level. Improved molecular orientation within Absorv™ XSE helps provide enhanced toughness, strength, and uniformity when compared to our previous generation of Absorv™ oriented tubing. With a combination of unmatched sizing, uniform wall thickness, and tailored absorption profiles, Absorv™ XSE oriented tubing is evolving BRS applications and giving designers more efficient and predictable options for replacing metallic stents in a wider variety of procedures spanning cardiovascular, peripheral, ENT, and other fields.
Monofilaments & Drawn Fiber
Bioabsorbable monofilaments have been utilized in the medical device industry for decades, most notably as an alternative to traditional suture materials. These products also have been utilized as an absorbable option for wound closure, or by forming highly oriented monofilament (drawn fiber) into a device such as sinus stents.
When a monofilament with higher tensile strength is needed (up to 5x*), such as in woven mesh devices or formed drug-eluting sinus stents, Absorv™ drawn fiber is available. This high performance monofilament undergoes an additional step to elongate the fiber after the extrusion process. This extra step of drawing the fiber adds strength and toughness to the fiber, ensuring it is optimized for your specific application needs.
*Based on testing of a nominal size, oriented vs. non-oriented that are not sterilized, not intended to be a specification, actual testing and economic value is subject to change with material(s), sizes, or product types.
Ribbon
Absorv™ ribbon is a flat, sheet-like extrusion with a high-aspect-ratio profile. The unique geometry of Absorv™ ribbon lends itself to a number of specialized applications that could benefit from a wider flat product that can allow further processing such as cutting, stamping, punching and forming. Ribbon is also available in an oriented form for applications that require enhanced mechanical properties.
With the steady growth and interest in bioabsorbables, applications are always evolving and expanding. At Zeus, we are at the forefront of these developments and will work with you to reach your precise product goals.
Disclaimer: Absorv™ tubing utilizes manufacturing aids made from Class VI PTFE monofilament. As a result, embedded PTFE particulates may be present in the product. Zeus does not warrant that Absorv™ tubing is free of PTFE particulates. Customers must assess the suitability and safety of using Absorv™ tubing products for medical devices.
Bioabsorbable Stents and Occluders – Stents of customizable shapes and sizes are made possible by the high-strength, tunable-stiffness, and unique thermal properties of bioabsorbable polymers, especially when produced in an oriented/drawn fiber form.
Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds – Bioabsorbable polymers are uniquely qualified to be converted into vascular scaffolds that provide temporary luminal support and controlled delivery of anti-proliferative drugs for the treatment of vascular disease, including coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and neurovascular disease.
Controlled Drug Delivery – The wide range of absorption profiles, achieved via polymer design and specialized polymer processing techniques, allows for the creation of highly tailorable degradation-mediated and diffusion-mediated drug delivery vehicles.
Brachytherapy Strands and Spacers – The versatility of Zeus’ bioabsorbable polymers is on full display in their use as critical components for life-saving prostate brachytherapy, wherein radioactive seeds are held in position by both bioabsorbable tubing and bioabsorbable monofilament spacers.
Cosmetic Face-lift Fibers – Capable of being produced with various tissue anchoring mechanisms, bioabsorbable drawn fibers are the perfect solution for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures with patient comfort and satisfaction in mind.
Gastrointestinal Devices – Bioabsorbable polymers go big in this arena paving the way for treatments with large-anatomy devices with tunable structural support and multiple mechanisms of delivery.
Dental and Periodontal Devices– In a highly dynamic environment such the mouth, the ability of bioabsorbable polymers to soften and quickly absorb allows for multiple treatments.
Bioabsorbable – A key advantage of bioabsorbable polymers over other materials is their innate ability to be absorbed naturally by the body, eliminating the need for permanent device implantation or for surgical removal at a later date.
Used in FDA-Approved Devices – Zeus bioabsorbables are used in FDA-approved medical devices.
Ability to Match Absorption Profile with Healing Profile – In most applications, especially those of a load-bearing nature, the absorption profile and more specifically, the mechanical integrity-loss profile, should coincide with the healing and restoration profile of the tissues being treated.
Different Properties for Different Devices – Bioabsorbable polymers are highly customizable. Combining their tailored chemistries with application-specific processing techniques, devices ranging from gels for drug delivery to high-strength bone-fixation devices are made possible.
Tunable Thermal and Mechanical Properties – From homopolymers, to copolymers, to terpolymers to blends, the precise control over glass transitions and crystallinity allow for polymer morphologies suitable for controlled levels of molecular orientation leading to optimal mechanical properties such as high strength and toughness.
Controlled Load Transfer – For dental implants, the interface with bone plays a critical role in how the implant is accepted and functions for long term well-being. By controlling the degradation rate of implants made with our bioabsorbable materials, the stresses commonly associated with these implants are reduced.
Safely Existing in the Body – Our bioabsorbable products can safely exist in the body for extended periods and elicit no adverse effects as is often associated with implanted metals.
No Explanation Surgery – As our bioabsorbable products are absorbed by the body, there is no need for a second surgery to remove an implanted device.
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