Hernia Patching System Is Easily Deployed

By HospiMedica staff writers
Posted on 18 Sep 2006
A new hernia repair platform provides three points of protection and tension-free repair, allowing the body's normal healing process to incorporate it into the local structures.

The Ultrapro hernia system (UHS) is a sterile, pre-shaped, three-dimensional device patch for the repair of abdominal wall defects. The UHS consists of three attached components: an underlay patch that provides an effective posterior repair on the inside of the abdominal wall, a cylindrical mesh connector similar to a plug, and an onlay patch that lays flat over the abdominal wall.

The reinforced underlay patch enables the UHS to be easily deployed by the surgeon, while the lightweight construction provides for flexibility and enhanced patient comfort. The lightweight support was made possible by providing a mesh burst strength that is four times stronger than the maximum abdominal pressure and providing excellent tissue in-growth with a flexible scar.

The polymer of the undyed and dyed polypropylene fiber is identical to the material used for Prolene suture material. The onlay patch, connector, and underlay patch are manufactured from approximately equal parts of absorbable monocryl (poliglecaprone 25) fiber and non-absorbable Prolene fiber. The underlay patch is reinforced by a flat, undyed absorbable film of monocryl. According to the manufacturer, 50% less foreign material remains in the body compared with traditional hernia repair systems. The UHS must always be separated from the abdominal cavity by the peritoneum, and is not suitable for use as a plug.

The UHS is manufactured by Ethicon (Somerville, NJ, USA), a Johnson & Johnson company.

Inguinal hernias are by far the most common type of hernia to develop in adults, representing about two-thirds of these defects. They occur in a part of the abdominal wall known as the inguinal canal, and are much more common in men. A man's testicles descend through this area before birth, leaving a natural defect called the internal ring that can develop into a hernia if it doesn't seal properly. As a result, the contents of the abdomen, such as intestine, may protrude through the opening, creating pain and/or a bulge.



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