The failure of synthetic polymeric medical devices - Durability and Reliability of Medical Polymers - page 214

500 µm

9.38 Regular bleed hole in new catheter.

Miss C eventually received damages from the makers in the Far east in
2010 as compensation for the distress and pain she had experienced as a
result of a poor batch of catheters. Contrary to the findings of a previous
study, 17 it is clear that such failures are not at all uncommon, as a review
from 1993 of five failed catheters indicated. 18 Other materials used include
polyurethane and natural rubber, and these too have suffered failures, judging
by the more than 18 adverse incident reports on the FDA Maude database
from Us hospitals, from about 2000 to the most recent report from March
2011. several alerts have also been issued by the MHRA in the period
up to 2008/9. such problems highlight the importance of quality control
of manufacture, and close control of the polymers used in forming such
products.

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9.8 Sutures
Catgut is a traditional monofilament used to stitch wounds together, but
there are now many alternative fibrous materials available. Another natural
product, braided silk fibre can also be used, and individual doctors make a
choice appropriate for each particular type of wound. stitches that dissolve