Abstract: A medical device includes an elongated suture having a tension indicator carried by the elongated suture. The tension indicator signals over-tensioning of the elongated suture when a tensile load applied along an axial direction of the elongated suture exceeds a predetermined tensile load, thereby preventing over-tensioning of the suture and collapsing of the suture. Advantageously, the tension indicator serves as an integrated feedback device that provides instantaneous feedback when tensioning a suture, rather than having to use an external measuring device to determine the amount of tensile load applied to the suture.

Abstract: A medical device includes a surgical needle and an elongated suture. The suture has a first end attached to the surgical needle and a second end located away from the surgical needle. The suture includes a mesh wall and a plurality of pores extending through the mesh wall. At least some of the pores in the macroporous size range of greater than 200 microns and adapted to facilitate tissue integration through the mesh wall of the suture when introduced into a body. The suture is configured to resist a tensile load applied along an axial direction between the first and second ends of the elongated suture such that upon overloading the mesh wall collapses upon itself resulting in apparent suture elongation, collapsed diameter, and/or reduction in pore size.