U.S. patent number 3,649,163 [Application Number 04/715,744] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-14 for method for removing noncollagenous matter from mammalian gut.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Cyanamid Company. Invention is credited to Edward Joseph McCusker.
United States Patent |
3,649,163 |
McCusker |
March 14, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
METHOD FOR REMOVING NONCOLLAGENOUS MATTER FROM MAMMALIAN GUT
Abstract
Gut strands used to manufacture sutures, tennis racquet
stringing and such are treated at least once with an aqueous
nonionic surfactant solution consisting essentially of from about
0.2 to about 5 percent surfactant to remove a portion of the
noncollagenous matter therefrom. Subsequent treatment of the gut
with aqueous alkaline solutions removes the remaining portion of
the noncollagenous matter to produce a collagen strand
substantially free from noncollagenous matter (i.e., fats and
noncollagenous protein). Strands so treated are of light color and
high strength. Such strands may be uniformly tanned. The strands
resist undesirable color intensification at elevated temperatures
and do not discolor suture tubing fluids.
Inventors: |
McCusker; Edward Joseph
(Danbury, CT) |
Assignee: |
American Cyanamid Company
(Stamford, CT)
|
Family
ID: |
24875305 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/715,744 |
Filed: |
March 25, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/94.11;
606/229 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D01C
3/00 (20130101); A61L 17/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61L
17/00 (20060101); A61L 17/08 (20060101); D01C
3/00 (20060101); A61l 017/00 (); A63b 051/02 ();
D01f 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;8/94.11 ;128/335.5
;99/175 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
164,060 |
|
Jun 1953 |
|
AU |
|
389,719 |
|
Jul 1908 |
|
FR |
|
428,292 |
|
May 1926 |
|
DD |
|
Other References
Schwartz, Anthony M. and Perry, James W., surface Active Agents,
Vol. 1, 1949, pages 212, 374 and 375 .
Merck Index, Seventh Edition, 1960, pages 961 and 965 Merck and
Co., Rahway, N.J..
|
Primary Examiner: Levy; Donald
Assistant Examiner: Wolman; H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A method for removing noncollagenous matter from long strips of
beef serosa prior to bleaching or tanning said serosa consisting
essentially of contacting long strips of beef serosa at last once
with an aqueous nonionic surfactant solution consisting essentially
of from 0.2 percent to about 5 percent of a nonionic surfactant
which is an ethoxylated nonylphenol adduct having 9 moles of
ethylene oxide per nonylphenol of the formula:
and 0.08 percent to 0.4 percent sodium silicate and 0.4 percent to
2 percent sodium tripolyphosphate at a temperature between about
90.degree. F. and about 100.degree. F. for a period of time
sufficient to remove a portion of noncollagenous matter therefrom,
including at least about 40 percent of residual fats and then
immersed successively in the following aqueous alkaline
solutions:
a. sodium peroxide, about 0.15 percent to about 0.23 percent
b. sodium peroxide, about 0.4 percent to about 0.6 percent
c. sodium peroxide, about 0.4 percent to about 0.6 percent
for a period of time sufficient to remove remaining noncollagenous
matter, thereby obtaining said serosa substantially free from
noncollagenous matter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Cleaning and degreasing of serosa and submucosa layers of mammalian
intestine for collagen strand preparation.
2. Description of the the Prior Art
The serosa layer of beef intestine and the submucosa layer of sheep
intestine are widely used collagen source in the preparation of
absorbable surgical sutures. These layers typically contain
significant amounts of naturally occurring noncollagenous matter
such as lipids, fats, pigments, greasy components, noncollagenous
proteins, elastin, and other complex components. It is essential to
remove as much noncollagenous matter as possible since its presence
in the final suture product is objectionable for several reasons.
One problem is the undesirable yellow to orange color imparted to
nonchromicized (i.e., plain) sutures. This color intensifies when
sutures are subjected to high temperatures such as normally occur
in a heat sterilization process. Furthermore, as the amount of
noncollagenous matter within the gut varies, sutures produced from
the gut will exhibit corresponding variations in the color so that
within a given suture lot, there may appear a color variation from
white to deep orange. Such nonuniformity of color is highly
undesirable in a product directed to the medical profession.
A further problem associated with both nonchromicized and
chromicized sutures arises when sutures containing large amounts of
noncollagenous matter are stored in tubing fluids such as
alcohol-water mixtures. The tubing fluid extracts a portion of the
noncollagenous matter and is thereby transformed from a colorless
liquid to a pale yellow to deep orange liquid depending upon the
amount of noncollagenous matter extracted. Since preferred suture
packages are transparent, an obviously unpleasant aesthetic effect
results.
Another result of noncollagenous matter in the suture is a
noticeable reduction in the in-vivo tensile strength of chromicized
sutures. This reduction is believed due to the difficulty of
uniformly tanning serosa or submucosa which contains large amounts
of noncollagenous matter.
Among additional problems associated with the presence of
noncollagenous matter are poor ply adhesion, the resultant tissue
irritation which occurs when the sutures are implanted in living
tissue and difficulty in uniformly dyeing the sutures.
When gut is to be used for tennis racquet stringing, light color,
uniformity of color, and high strength are of prime importance, all
of these factors being adversely effected by the presence of
noncollagenous matter in the gut.
A variety of methods have been used to remove noncollagenous
matter. One common method involves treating the intestinal layers
with one or more aqueous alkaline solutions such as sodium
carbonate or sodium hydroxide solutions. This treatment, while
effective in removing noncollagenous protein, is not particularly
effective in removing a sufficient amount of the fatty components
to eliminate many of the undesirable properties listed hereinabove.
Aqueous solutions of trypsin and other enzymes having mucase and/or
elastase activity have been used to remove noncollagenous matter.
Block et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 2,750,251 teach the use of aqueous
solutions of the tetrasodium salt of ethylenediamine tetra-acetic
acid as a method of removing noncollagenous matter from mammalian
gut. The patent further discloses that the addition of nonionic
detergents to the solution facilitates and accelerates the removal
of fat. Klevens in U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,477 discloses a method for
removing noncollagenous matter from beef tendon one of whose
dimensions does not exceed 15 to 30 mils in a regenerated collagen
process by treating same with aqueous solutions of sodium carbonate
and salts of polyphosphoric acid such as sodium hexametaphosphate
and the like. Klevens further discloses that the incorporation of a
nonionic detergent into the solution is an aid in cleaning the
collagen without detrimentally affecting it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method for removing naturally occurring
noncollagenous matter from the portions of mammalian intestine used
to prepare natural collagen strands for use as surgical sutures,
tennis racquet stringing, and the like. The pertinent portions of
intestine, hereinafter sometimes called "gut" for simplicity, are
the serosa and submucosa layers of beef and the submucosa layer of
sheep inclusive of the noncollagenous matter ordinarily associated
with the gut following its separation from the bulk of the
intestine. Noncollagenous matter is composed of two fractions: a
fatty fraction hereinafter sometimes called "fats," and a
noncollagenous protein fraction. The fatty fraction is composed of
lipids, pigments, greasy components, and other complex components
having fatty characteristics. The fats are believed to cause the
undesirable color in the final collagen strand and are known to
reduce strand strength and to interfere with uniform tanning of the
strands. The noncollagenous fraction contains components such as
muscle, myosin, elastin, hexosamines, and such, which are nonfats,
but which must nevertheless be removed since their presence reduces
strand strength and is known to cause irritation of living
tissue.
This invention more particularly relates to a method for removing
noncollagenous matter from mammalian gut which comprises contacting
the gut at least once with an aqueous solution of one or more
nonionic surfactants, prior to bleaching or tanning the gut, for a
period of time sufficient to remove a portion of the noncollagenous
matter from the gut. Generally, treating the gut with a solution
consisting essentially of from about 0.2 to about 5 percent
nonionic surfactant for at least about 16 hours is sufficient to
remove the aforementioned amount of noncollagenous matter from the
gut. The remaining portion of the noncollagenous matter may be
removed either before or after the surfactant treatment by
contacting the gut at least once with an alkaline aqueous solution
of sodium peroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or such
under controlled conditions to produce gut which is substantially
free from noncollagenous matter.
The surfactant treatment is of primary utility in removing fats
which resist removal in alkaline treatments. Gut subjected solely
to alkaline treatment, for example, ordinarily contains about 2 to
4 percent residual fats measured as alcohol extractables. However,
gut subjected sequentially to a surfactant and alkaline treatment
ordinarily contains about 1.2 percent or less residual fats
measured as above. Gut containing 2-4 percent fats exhibits most of
the undesirable properties listed hereinabove while gut containing
1.2 percent or less is virtually free from these undesirable
properties. This reduction in residual fats of at least about 40
percent occasioned by the surfactant treatment is therefore an
essential step in preparing acceptable gut for use in sutures and
tennis racquet stringing.
The alkaline treatment is primarily a step for removing
noncollagenous protein although appreciable amounts are also
removed in the surfactant treatment. For example, the surfactant
treatment will typically remove about 30 to about 40 percent and
the alkaline treatment about 60 to about 70 percent of the
noncollagenous protein (measured by primary amino group analysis as
described hereinbelow) ultimately removable by the combined process
steps.
It is an important aspect of this invention that the surfactant
treatment and the alkaline treatment be separate. When surfactant
is added directly to the alkaline baths in an attempt to achieve
single-step removal of noncollagenous matter, the amount of fat and
noncollagenous protein removed is noticeably diminished as compared
to separate bath processing.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a method
for removing from mammalian gut that portion of noncollagenous
matter not susceptible to removal by alkaline treatment, by
directly treating the gut with an aqueous nonionic surfactant
solution.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method for
removing the remaining portion of noncollagenous protein from
mammalian gut by alkaline-treating gut which has been separately
surfactant treated thereby producing gut which is substantially
free from noncollagenous matter.
It is another object of this invention to produce nonchromicized
sutures of reduced fat content and hence lighter color and improved
resistance to color intensification upon exposure to elevated
temperature.
It is another object of this invention to produce tennis racquet
stringing of improved strength and uniformly lighter color.
It is a further object of this invention to produce more uniformly
chromicized sutures of improved package and in-vivo properties.
It is a still further object of this invention to produce both
nonchromicized and chromicized sutures which are nonirritating to
living tissue and which may be packaged in colorless tubing fluids
without discoloring same.
These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from a
total reading of this specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 depicts schematically a flowsheet for processing sheep or
beef gut into a collagen strand for use as a surgical suture or
tennis racquet stringing. Stages in the process at which the
surfactant bath may be conveniently inserted are depicted by broken
lines.
FIG. 2 is a graph depicting the cumulative removal of
noncollagenous protein (measured as gram moles of primary amino
groups per 10 gallons of process bath) from beef serosa occurring
as the serosa progresses through a typical alkaline cleaning
process, and as it passes through the same process after having
been pretreated with an aqueous surfactant bath.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A variety of methods are used to process gut into sutures, tennis
racquet stringing, or the like. Variety of method is particularly
prevalent in the early stages of processing which attempt to remove
as much noncollagenous matter as possible from the gut. For
purposes of further illustrating the invention and its flexibility
in the processing of the gut in a clear manner, the invention will
be discussed in relation to the process outlined schematically in
FIG. 1 although the invention is in no way limited to this
particular process.
The collagenous raw material for preparing absorbable surgical
sutures, tennis racquet stringing, or the like, is usually the
serosa or submucosa intestinal layer of beef or the submucosa layer
of sheep, with beef serosa and sheep submucossa the preferred
source of collagen. Beef serosa or submucosa is obtainable as an
abattoir byproduct; it is separated mechanically from the bulk of
the intestine and cut into thin ribbons 20 to 25 feet long which
are then either frozen or salted for storage. Sheep submucosa is
similarly prepared except it is not cut into ribbons but is stored
as a casing cut to lengths of 20 to 25 feet.
The gut is usually not pure serosa or submucosa tissue since in
separating the gut from the intestine, muscle tissue or other
extraneous tissue is frequently left attached to the gut. The
serosa layer, for example, usually contains some longitudinal, and
on occasion, radial muscle tissue attached to it; serosa in this
form is referred to in the art as "gold-beater" ribbon to
distinguish it from pure serosa tissue.
Referring to FIG. 1, the frozen or salted gut from the abattoir is
stored 1 as received until needed. Frozen gut is then immersed in
warm water until completely thawed 2. Salted intestine is similarly
treated 3 to leach out the salt. The beef serosa or submucosa
ribbons are immersed in a dilute (about 0.15 to about 0.23 percent)
aqueous solution of sodium peroxide 4 having a pH of about 13 to
about 14, this bath being known in the art as the "slime". After
the slime is completed, the beef serosa or submucosa is
successively immersed in two baths of stronger (about 0.4 to about
0.6 percent, pH of about 13 to about 14) aqueous sodium peroxide,
5, 6 known in the art as the "strongs". The prime purpose of the
slime and strongs is to remove noncollagenous matter from the
gut.
Sheep submucosa must be given a milder slime and strongs since the
sodium peroxide baths discussed above would cause undesirable
excessive alkaline hydrolysis of the sheep submucosa. Sheep
submucosa therefore is subjected to a dilute (about 0.12 to about
0.25 percent, pH of about 9 to about 11) aqueous sodium carbonate
slime 7 and more concentrated sodium carbonate (about 0.4 to about
0.6 percent, pH of about 9 to about 11) strongs, 8, 9.
Alternatively, a solution containing sodium carbonate and a minor
amount of sodium peroxide (relative to the sodium carbonate) may be
utilized in both the slime and the strongs provided solution pH is
maintained about about 9 to 11. Following slime 7 the mild
hydrolysis which has occurred within the submucosa imparts a greasy
texture to the submucosa casing. This is therefore a particularly
convenient time to split the tube into two or more ribbons for
further processing by sliding the tube over a conventional cutting
horn 10 and then treating the ribbons in the sodium carbonate
strongs 8, 9.
Following the slime and strongs, both sheep and beef ribbons are
water rinsed 11 to a pH below about 8.5 and 9.5 respectively. This
can require as many as four separate rinses. At this point, tennis
gut and ribbon destined for nonchromicized sutures are immersed in
a bleaching bath 12 of dilute aqueous hydrogen peroxide. Ribbon
destined for chromicized sutures is not bleached but is immersed in
a conventional tanning bath 13 until the desired degree of
chromicizing is achieved.
The bleached and tanned ribbons are water-rinsed 14 to remove
residual bleach and tanning compounds. The ribbons are looped and
measured 15 to obtain the desired ply structure, twisted 16 into
strands, and dried 17. Suture strands are then cut to the desired
length 18, polished 19, packaged 20, and sterilized 21. Ribbon
destined for tennis racquet stringing, i.e., tennis gut, is
subjected to somewhat different processing following the drying
step 17. It is polished 22, manually lacquered with shellac or a
polyester lacquer 23, cut to size 24, coiled 25, inspected for
quality and graded 26, tied 27, and packaged 28.
The gut may be contacted with the aqueous nonionic surfactant
solution in accordance with the process of this invention at a
variety of stages in the process prior to the tanning 13 or
bleaching 12 step. Aqueous nonionic surfactant solutions containing
less than about 0.2 percent surfactant remove noncollagenous matter
at extremely slow rates and are therefore of little practical
interest. On the other hand, surfactant solutions containing more
than about 5 percent surfactant have low surfactant efficiency as
compared to more dilute solutions and needlessly magnify the
problem of removing the surfactant from the gut.
The surfactant treatment may be employed singly or in combination.
For example, similar results are achieved by contacting the gut
with a single 1 percent surfactant solution or with a series of two
0.2 percent surfactant solutions. The time required to remove
noncollagenous matter depends, among other variables, upon the
surfactant concentration, the bath temperature, and the amount of
noncollagenous matter present in the gut. Generally, a period of at
least about 16 hours is required for satisfactory operation.
Elevated surfactant bath temperature is desirable although an upper
temperature limitation of about 120.degree. F. is usually imposed
since collagen hydrolyzes above this temperature. A temperature
range of 90.degree.-100.degree. F. has been found particularly
suitable.
A variety of nonionic surfactants are operable although the
preferred species are water-soluble at the bath temperatures of
interest to facilitate preparing a bath of uniform surfactant
concentration. Among the suitable nonionic surfactants are included
such diverse members as the ethoxylated fatty amides and
ethoxylated fatty acids such as those sold under the trademarks
"Ethomid" and "Ethofat" respectively by the Armour Industrial
Chemical Co., the ethoxylated alkylphenols such as those sold by
the Dow Chemical Co. and Jefferson Chemical Co. under the
respective trademarks of "Dowfax" and "Surfonic", and the
ethoxylated polyoxypropylenes sold by Wyandotte Chemical Co. under
the trademark "Pluronics."
A preferred nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylated nonylphenol of
the formula:
An aqueous solution containing about 1 percent of the above
surfactant has been found to be particularly suitable.
Inorganic detergent builder compositions such as one or more of the
water-soluble salts of silicic acid and polyphosphoric acid and the
like may be included in the aqueous surfactant solutions. Among the
preferred builder compositions are sodium silicate and sodium
tripolyphosphate. As builder concentration increases, surfactant
concentration can usually be correspondingly reduced.
Referring to FIG. 1, there are a variety of locations during the
initial processing of the gut where the aqueous surfactant bath 29
may be conveniently inserted. These locations are indicated in FIG.
1 by dotted lines. A particularly effective and highly preferred
point at which to insert the surfactant treatment is immediately
after the thawing bath 2 in cases where frozen gut is employed. The
surfactant may also be added directly to the thaw bath 2 with the
advantage that removal of the fats occurs concurrently with a
necessary process step thereby obviating the need for a separate
surfactant treatment.
The surfactant bath may be inserted at any point before, during, or
after the alkaline baths (i.e., the slime and strongs) but prior to
bleaching 12 or tanning 13. The surfactant baths are preferably
inserted at some point prior to the water rinse 11 to assure
adequate removal of residual surfactant.
The amount of noncollagenous protein removed by the surfactant
treatment is readily shown by the data of Table I wherein the
concentration of primary amino groups in various process baths is
presented for surfactant treated and nonsurfactant treated beef
serosa. Primary amino group concentration is an indication of the
noncollagenous protein extracted from the serosa by the various
process baths and is not necessarily a quantitative determination
of the amount of noncollagenous protein removed. However the
primary amino group analysis is a useful figure for comparative
purposes. The data were gathered following the procedure of Example
1 presented hereinbelow. ##SPC1##
Although surfactant pretreatment of serosa prior to alkaline
treatment does not noticeably enhance removal of noncollagenous
protein during the subsequent alkaline treatment, the surfactant
bath alone, based on primary amino group analysis, removed 37
percent of the noncollagenous protein ultimately removed. The
surfactant-alkaline treatment removed about 70 percent more
noncollagenous protein than the alkaline treatment alone.
FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of the data of Table I
contrasting the cumulative effect of noncollagenous protein removal
from beef serosa given only an alkaline treatment with that of
serosa given a combined surfactant and alkaline treatment. Similar
results are obtainable with beef and sheep submucosa.
The following illustrative examples present several preferred
embodiments of the invention.
EXAMPLE 1
This example illustrates the treatment of beef serosa with
surfactant solution prior to alkaline treatment of the serosa.
Ten knots of frozen beef serosa were immersed in 95.degree. F.
water (a knot represents 80-100 serosa ribbons each about 221/2
feet long). The serosa contained fats, color pigments, muscle,
noncollagenous protein, and other complex components not removed
when the serosa layer is separated from the rest of intestine. When
the serosa was thawed (15-36 hours), a cord was looped around each
knot for easy handling and the serosa knots were immersed in a 1
percent aqueous solution of a surfactant of the formula:
at a temperature of 95.degree. for about 16 hours. The knots were
then successively immersed in three 95.degree. F. aqueous baths
containing 0.19 percent, 0.5 percent, and 0.5 percent (by weight)
sodium peroxide respectively for periods of time of about 0.5 hour,
1 hour, and 1 hour respectively. The knots were water rinsed to a
pH of less than 9.5. If chromicized sutures were desired, the
serosa was immersed in any of a variety of known tanning baths such
as a dilute aqueous solution of basic chromium sulfate and
pyrogallol for up to 2 hours. If nonchromicized sutures were
desired, the tanning step was omitted and the serosa immersed in a
95.degree. F. aqueous bleaching solution containing about 2 percent
by volume hydrogen peroxide and traces of formaldehyde and sodium
silicate. The chromicized or nonchromicized serosa was dried to
produce a collagen strand suitable for use as a suture or as tennis
gut. Suture strands were then cut to length, polished, packaged and
sterilized. Tennis gut was polished, lacquered, cut to length,
coiled, graded, and then tied.
Experimental control was achieved in this and the following
examples by subjecting gut of like quality to identical processing
except omitting the surfactant treatment.
Surfactant treated sutures were invariably of lighter and more
uniform color than controls, and showed improved resistance to
color intensification during heat sterilization. More uniform
tanning was noticed with the treated sutures. Fats measured as
ethanol extractables showed the treated sutures to contain at least
40 percent less fats than the control. Removal of noncollagenous
protein was measured by analyzing the primary amino content of the
surfactant, sodium peroxide, and water washes employing the
ninhydrin colorimetric technique of McPhee, described in Textile
Research Journal, Vol. 28, pp. 303-314 (1958). About 70 percent
more noncollagenous protein was removed from the treated suture
than from the control. Surfactant treated tennis gut showed better
color and ply adhesion, and improved durability and strength.
Typical comparative suture package data are shown below for
chromicized material.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Tensile Strength (lb.)
__________________________________________________________________________
Surfactant Treatment Plys Size Diameter Straight Knot (mils) Pull
Pull
__________________________________________________________________________
Yes 1 2/0 16.2 12 6.3 No 1 2/0 16.2 10.7 6.3 Yes 2 0 19.5 14.6 8.0
No 2 0 19.5 14.3 7.7
__________________________________________________________________________
In-vivo tensile strength was determined by implanting chromic
sutures in rabbits, sacrificing the animals at perscribed intervals
(7 and 15 days below) following implantation, removing the sutures,
and measuring their tensile strength.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Straight Pull (lb.)
__________________________________________________________________________
Surfactant Treatment SIZE DAY 7 DAY 15
__________________________________________________________________________
Yes 00 4.4 2.6 No 00 3.5 2.2
__________________________________________________________________________
The above data indicate that comparable package properties are
obtained with treated and nontreated sutures. However,
significantly improved in-vivo strength is noted with
surfactanttreated sutures. Although in-vivo strength retention is
markedly improved, complete digestion of the treated suture was
observed within 60-90 days.
EXAMPLE 2
This example illustrates treatment of beef serosa with surfactant
solution containing inorganic detergent builders at an intermediate
point in the alkaline treatment of the serosa.
Ten knots of frozen beef serosa were thawed as in Example 1. The
thawed serosa was immersed in a 95.degree. F. 0.19 percent aqueous
sodium peroxide solution of 0.5 hour followed by immersion in a
95.degree. F. 0.5 percent aqueous sodium peroxide solution for 1
hour. The gut was then immersed in a 95.degree. F. solution
containing 2 percent sodium tripolyphosphate, 0.4 percent sodium
silicate, and 1 percent of the surfactant shown in Example 1 for
about 16 hours. The gut was then immersed in a 95.degree. F. 0.5
percent aqueous sodium peroxide solution for 1 hour, water-rinsed
to a pH below 9.5, tanned or bleached according to Example 1,
water-rinsed, looped and measured, twisted and dried.
About 56 percent more fats were removed from the surfactant-treated
suture than from the control which had received identical
processing except that the surfactant treatment was omitted;
treated plain sutures were of noticeably lighter and more uniform
color. Added comparative data are tabulated below ##SPC2##
The above data clearly show the significantly improved in-vivo
strength retention of the surfactant-treated sutures. Despite the
improved strength retention, complete digestion of the treated
sutures was observed within 60-90 days.
EXAMPLE 3
This example illustrates the treatment of beef serosa with two
highly dilute surfactant solutions containing detergent builders at
interim stages in the alkaline treatment.
Ten knots of serosa were thawed as in Example 1. The thawed serosa
was immersed in a 95.degree. F. aqueous 0.19 percent sodium
peroxide solution for 0.5 hour and then in a 95.degree. F. aqueous
solution containing 0.4 percent sodium tripolyphosphate, 0.08
percent sodium silicate and 0.2 percent of the surfactant of
Example 1 for 16 hours. The serosa was then immersed for 1 hour in
a 95.degree. F. 0.5 percent aqueous solution of sodium peroxide
after which it was reimmersed in a fresh surfactant solution as
described immediately above for 16 hours. Thereupon serosa was
immersed in a second 95.degree. F. aqueous 0.5 percent sodium
peroxide bath for 1 hour, water-rinsed to a pH of below 9.5, tanned
or bleached as in Example 1, looped and measured, twisted, and
dried.
About 58 percent more fats were removed from the treated suture
than the control. Other suture properties were similar to those
shown in Examples 1 and 2.
EXAMPLE 4
This example illustrates the treatment of beef serosa by
incorporation of the surfactant directly into the thawing bath.
The identical procedure of Example 1 is employed except that the
surfactant bath is omitted. In its place, sufficient surfactant as
shown in Example 1 is added to the thaw water prior to immersion of
the frozen serosa therein, to produce a 1 percent solution. Suture
properties are substantially those shown in Examples 1 and 2.
EXAMPLE 5
This example illustrates the use of a concentrated aqueous
surfactant solution.
Following substantially the same procedure as in Example 1, except
that the surfactant concentration in the solution was 5 percent
instead of 1 percent, sutures having substantially the same
properties as shown in Example 1 are obtained.
EXAMPLE 6
This example illustrates the use of other nonionic surfactants.
Following substantially the same procedure as in Examples 1, 2 or
3, the following nonionic surfactants are successfully employed in
place of the ethoxylated nonylphenol adduct. ##SPC3##
EXAMPLE 7
This example illustrates the treatment of sheep submucosa with
surfactant solution prior to alkaline treatment.
Fifty frozen sheep submucosa casings are immersed for thawing in
95.degree. F. water for 16 to 36 hours. The thawed submucosa is
immersed in a 1 percent surfactant solution containing a surfactant
of the formula:
for 16 to 36 hours. The gut is then immersed successively in a
95.degree. F. aqueous 0.2 percent sodium carbonate bath after which
the gut casing is run over a splitting horn severing it into two
ribbons (for a total of 100 ribbons) which are then bound for easy
handling. The ribbons are immersed successively in two 95.degree.
F. 0.5 percent aqueous sodium carbonate baths whereupon they are
rinsed, chromicized or bleached as desired, looped and measured,
twisted, and dried.
The sutures so produced exhibit properties similar to the beef
serosa sutures shown in Examples 1 and 2.
* * * * *