Coupling member for knotless sutures and ligatures
AssigneeTornier SAS
InventorsPaul V. Fenton, Paul A. Westhaver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knotless suture device including at least one fusible suture for securing or ligating living tissue structures. The device also includes a generally U-shape fusible coupling member for receiving end portions of the fusible suture. Energy applied to fusible portions of the coupling member cause localized heating and plastic flow so as to fuse the coupling member and the end portion of the suture together. The coupling member can include one or more energy directors on a contact surface to direct and focus energy to particular regions so as to efficiently effect coupling member-to-suture welding.
Claims14
A closed suture loop, comprising:
- a U-shaped coupling member extending along a central axis between a first coupler end and a second coupler end, said U-shaped coupling member having a fusible interior surface and an exterior surface extending between said first coupler end and said second coupler end, and defining an open interior region bounded by said interior surface;
- a flexible fusible elongated member extending along a curved axis between a first portion at a first suture end and a second portion at a second suture end, wherein said first portion and said second portion are mutually adjacent and oppositely directed, said first portion and said second portion being disposed in said interior region with said suture axis of said first portion and said second portion being substantially parallel with said central axis;
- wherein the elongated member comprises a surgical suture material, wherein said first portion of the suture is fused to said second portion and said first portion and said second portion are fused to said interior surface of said coupling member.
A fused suture forming kit comprising:
- a U-shaped coupling member extending along a central axis between a first coupler end and a second coupler end, said U-shaped coupling member having a fusible interior surface and an exterior surface extending between said first coupler end and said second coupler end, and defining an open interior region bounded by said interior surface;
- and
- a fusing tool for applying energy to the U-shaped coupling member and sutures passing through said interior region, wherein the fusing tool includes an energy source, a welding head for receiving energy from said energy source and applying said energy to said coupling member and sutures passing through said interior region, and an end effector for supporting the coupling member during application of energy from said energy source.
A fused suture forming kit, comprising
- A. a U-shaped coupling member extending along a central axis between a first coupler end and a second coupler end, said U-shaped coupling member having a fusible interior surface and an exterior surface extending between said first coupler end and said second coupler end, and defining an open interior region bounded by said interior surface;
- B. an energy coupler including,
- an elongated support element extending along a coupler axis from a proximal end to a distal end, and
- an elongated ultrasonic energy transmission horn within said support element and extending along said coupler axis between a proximal end thereof near said proximal end of said support element and a distal end thereof near said distal end of said support element,
- wherein said distal end of said support element is adapted to removably support said first coupler end and said second coupler end of said coupling member, whereby said interior surface is opposite said distal end of said horn and adapted to receive ends of a loop of fusible suture loop in intimate contact with said interior surface and said distal end of said horn, and wherein said proximal end of said horn is adapted to receive externally applied ultrasound energy for transmission to said distal end of said horn of sufficient energy to fuse said suture loop ends to each other and to said interior surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.