Geometrically controlled tensile response of braided sutures

• Key parameters for predicting tensile properties of braided sutures are elucidated.
• An increase in braid angle reduces slope of stress–strain curves of braided sutures.
• A good agreement has been observed between the theoretical and experimental results.

Sutures are the materials used for wound closure that are caused by surgery or trauma. The main pre-requisite to the success of the suture is to obtain ultimate level of tensile properties with defined geometrical constraints. In this communication, the model for tensile properties of braided sutures has been proposed by elucidating the most important geometrical and material parameters. The model has accounted for the kinematical changes occurring in the braid and constituent strand geometries under defined level of strain. A comparison has been made between the theoretical and experimental results of stress–strain characteristics of braided sutures.