Abstract: There is provided a product comprising a suture thread which, prior to being used to form a surgical suture, is in a stressed state which gives the suture thread a tendency to undergo lengthwise viscoelastic contraction. The suture thread undergoes viscoelastic contraction when in use as a surgical suture and this may promote wound healing to a greater extent than a conventional suture thread which does not undergo viscoelastic contraction.

Abstract: There is provided a product comprising a suture thread which, prior to being used to form a surgical suture, is in a stressed state which gives the suture thread a tendency to undergo lengthwise viscoelastic contraction. The suture thread undergoes viscoelastic contraction when in use as a surgical suture and this may promote wound healing to a greater extent than a conventional suture thread which does not undergo viscoelastic contraction.

Abstract: There is provided a product comprising a suture thread which, prior to being used to form a surgical suture, is in a stressed state which gives the suture thread a tendency to undergo lengthwise viscoelastic contraction. The suture thread undergoes viscoelastic contraction when in use as a surgical suture and this may promote wound healing to a greater extent than a conventional suture thread which does not undergo viscoelastic contraction.

Abstract: A tool component comprising a wear part covered at least in part by a connection member, the wear part having a specified hardness and the connection member being a metal or alloy, and the wear part comprising a surface that includes one or more depressions or projections therefrom, and the connection member having been pressed against that surface so that at least the surface of the connection member that faces the wear part surface follows the profile of the wear part, whereby relative movement between the wear part and connection member is substantially prevented. The metal or alloy connection member may be readily attached to a tool body for example by brazing of the like. The wear part may comprise a material that is not readily brazeable, for example a ceramic material or a cermet or a superhard material or a composite of such materials.

Abstract: A composite part comprises (a) a cutting element which comprises super-hard cutting table and a substrate and (b) a metal or alloy layer. Respective first surfaces of the superhard cutting table and the substrate are joined to each other, and the metal or alloy layer is located adjacent to second surfaces of the cutting table and the substrate so as to surround the joined first surfaces of the cutting table and the substrate. The metal or alloy layer and the second surfaces of one or both of the cutting table and substrate are co-operatively shaped substantially to prevent relative movement therebetween. The metal or alloy layer may be used to secure the cutting element within a tool body, and advantageously provides a convenient means to effect that securement, while simultaneously protecting the join between the superhard cutting table and the substrate during the process of securement of the cutting element to the tool body.

Abstract: A composite part comprises (a) a cutting element which comprises super-hard cutting table and a substrate and (b) a metal or alloy layer. Respective first surfaces of the superhard cutting table and the substrate are joined to each other, and the metal or alloy layer is located adjacent to second surfaces of the cutting table and the substrate so as to surround the joined first surfaces of the cutting table and the substrate. The metal or alloy layer and the second surfaces of one or both of the cutting table and substrate are co-operatively shaped substantially to prevent relative movement therebetween. The metal or alloy layer may be used to secure the cutting element within a tool body, and advantageously provides a convenient means to effect that securement, while simultaneously protecting the join between the superhard cutting table and the substrate during the process of securement of the cutting element to the tool body.

Abstract: A tool component comprising a wear part covered at least in part by a connection member, the wear part having a specified hardness and the connection member being a metal or alloy, and the wear part comprising a surface that includes one or more depressions or projections therefrom, and the connection member having been pressed against that surface so that at least the surface of the connection member that faces the wear part surface follows the profile of the wear part, whereby relative movement between the wear part and connection member is substantially prevented. The metal or alloy connection member may be readily attached to a tool body for example by brazing of the like. The wear part may comprise a material that is not readily brazeable, for example a ceramic material or a cermet or a superhard material or a composite of such materials.