US 10,327,763 B2 · Knotless collapsible sutures and methods for suturing

Abstract

Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for improved surgical sutures, suture systems, and methods for suturing. In general, the sutures, suture systems, and methods can allow a suture to form a secure, closed loop without tying a knot. The suture can include a barbed portion configured to be threaded through a hollow portion. The barbed portion can have a plurality of barbs thereon, which can grasp onto an inner wall of the hollow portion when disposed therein to help secure the loop at a desired size. The barbs can all be oriented in one direction that corresponds to a direction of movement of the suture when the loop is being tightened. Thus, the barbs can be configured to allow for a size of the loop to be easily reduced to any desired size to approximate tissue, but can be configured to resist subsequent expansion of the loop to ensure that the tissue remains in place.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A suturing system, comprising:

a flexible suture having leading and trailing ends, the suture comprising a single continuous strand of one filament that extends from the leading end to the trailing end, the one filament having a first partial longitudinal length with a plurality of unidirectional barbs, and a second partial longitudinal length having a hollow portion, the hollow portion being located between the trailing end of the suture and the plurality of unidirectional barbs, and the leading end of the suture being configured to pass through the hollow portion so as to move at least one of the barbs into the hollow portion such that the at least one of the barbs grasps onto the one filament within the hollow portion thereof by passing through and engaging a wall of the hollow portion and engaging tissue adjacent to the hollow portion,
wherein the leading end has a length that is greater than a length of the first partial longitudinal length with the plurality of unidirectional barbs.

A suturing system, comprising:

a flexible suture having a free end configured to enter into a hollow portion of the suture and pass through the hollow portion in a first direction so as to move a plurality of unidirectional barbs of the suture that extend outward from the suture along a length of the suture into the hollow portion, the barbs being configured to grasp onto the suture within the hollow portion so as to prevent the length of the suture from moving within the hollow portion;
and
a threader positioned within the hollow portion of the suture, the threader having a suture-engaging feature configured to receive the free end of the flexible suture therethrough, an actuation feature for pulling the suture-engaging feature, and an intermediate portion disposed between the suture-engaging feature and the actuation feature, the intermediate portion being disposed in at least a portion of the hollow portion of the suture such that one of the intermediate portion adjacent to the suture-engaging feature or the suture-engaging feature passes out of the hollow portion, across an outer surface of the suture, at a first location, the first location being disposed longitudinally away from a second location at which one of the intermediate portion adjacent to the actuation feature or the actuation feature passes out of the hollow portion, across the outer surface of the suture, the first location being longitudinally offset from the second location, the intermediate portion being flexible to allow for the suture-engaging feature to be passed through the first location, into and through the at least a portion of the hollow portion, and through the second location,
wherein the threader is configured such that the suture-engaging feature passes through one or more walls of the hollow portion to pass the free end of the flexible suture into the hollow portion.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Knotless collapsible sutures and methods for suturing

Life of this patent

Knotless collapsible sutures and methods for suturing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28