Properties of barbed sutures

The tensile breaking strength and elongation together with the modulus of elasticity, and suture size are important properties that determine a suture s 

The cross-sectional shape of barbed sutures also influence tensile strength. In one study, a standard 2.0 polyvinyUdene fluoride suture with a traditional round cross-section had an initial tensile strength of 11.33 lbs. After forming barbs on the suture, the tensile strength reduced to 2.56 lbs. A suture formed 

FL = failure load E = elongation FE = failure energy TS = tensile strength. Source, von Fraunhofer etal. (1988). 

A study of the stress relaxation of three suture materials, polypropylene, PDS and polyglycolic acid revealed that polypropylene exhibited the greatest relaxation of 40% of the initial value (Metz et al., 1990). This suggests that barbs made out of polypropylene will change the angle at which they stand out (the barb angle) depending on the applied forces they experience and with time. 

E = storage modulus E = loss modulus tan 5 = j8 transition tan 5 = a transition. 

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