# US 10,478,178 B2 · Suture with trim formed tip

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- Number: US 10,478,178 B2
- Document ID: US10478178B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/278,297
- Filed: 2016-09-28
- Published: 2017-01-19
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2014-06-04
- Assignees: Ethicon, Inc.
- Applicants: Ethicon, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert Anthony Rousseau; David C. Lindh, Sr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478178B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/06195: {Apparatus or means for preparing the cut end of the suture thread to be attached to the needle, e.g. tipping to prevent brooming (A61B17/06004 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/06: Needles {; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations}; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials
- A61B 17/06004: {Means for attaching suture to needle (tipping A61B17/06195)}
- A61B 17/06066: {Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations}
- A61B 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)}
- A61L 31/148: {Materials at least partially resorbable by the body}
- A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing}
- A61B 2017/06185: {hollow or tubular}
- Y10T 29/49803: Magnetically shaping
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention discloses methods for producing a surgical suture having a reduced cross-sectional area portion from monofilaments fibers of various polymeric and metallic materials. Also disclosed are novel sutures having novel tips. Novel suture tipping apparatuses are also disclosed. The monofilament is subjected to the application of thermal treatment coupled with application of mechanical shaping of the fiber element to produce a deformed cross sectional portion of the suture body. The deformed suture body region is subsequently subjected to a trimming operation within a punching/stamping die. The reduced section of the suture body region and is severed to form a suture having a reduced-cross sectional area end portion. Preferably, each reduced region is severed approximately in the center of the trimmed reduced cross sectional area portion to form a suture having both ends of a reduced cross-sectional area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A monofilament suture having a formed distal tip, comprising;
a suture filament having a body, proximal end and a distal end, the body of the suture having a maximum cross-sectional dimension;
a tip section on the distal end, the tip section having a configuration with an outer perimeter comprising at least first and second opposed arcuate sections joined together by opposed first and second flat or linear sections that are substantially parallel to each other, and a cross-section having a maximum dimension, wherein the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the tip section is less than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the body of the suture;
a transition section between the suture filament body and the tip section, the transition section tapering from the suture filament body to the tip section to transition from a diameter of the suture filament body to a diameter of the tip section; and
lateral trim regions in the distal end extending through the transition section into at least a portion of the tip section, the lateral trim regions comprising connected opposed arced portions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The suture of claim 1, wherein at least part of the transition has a section that is cut with a cutting die.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The suture of claim 1, wherein the tip section has a section that is cut with a cutting die.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The suture of claim 1, wherein both the transition section and the tip section are cut.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The suture of claim 1, wherein the suture comprises a biocompatible polymer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The suture of claim 1, wherein the polymer is an absorbable polymer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The suture of claim 6, wherein the absorbable polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of lactide, glycolide, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, poly(p-dioxanone), polycaprolactone, and copolymers and blends thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The suture of claim 1, wherein the polymer is a non-absorbable polymer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The suture of claim 8, wherein the non-absorbable polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyesters, and polyolefins.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The suture of claim 1, wherein the suture comprises a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of metals and metal alloys.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The suture of claim 1, wherein the opposed arced portion are connected in the distal end such that the lateral trim regions extend beyond a terminal edge of the transition region.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The suture of claim 1, wherein the lateral trim regions comprise body flats or facets.