Methods and apparatus for annealing sutures

A method of enhancing the security of a synthetic suture knot, the method comprising:

• tying the suture to form the knot;
• momentarily applying heat to a first area of a first limb of the knot in a liquid environment;
• momentarily applying heat to a second area of a second limb of the knot in the liquid environment;
• cutting the first limb such that a first short length of the first limb remains attached to the knot, where the first short limb includes at least a first portion of the first area;
• and
• cutting the second limb such that a second short length of the second limb remains attached to the knot, where the second short limb includes at least a second portion of the second area.

A method of enhancing the security of a synthetic suture knot, the method comprising:

• tying the suture to form the knot;
• momentarily applying heat to an area of a limb of the knot in a liquid environment;
• and
• cutting the limb such that a short length of the limb remains attached to the knot, where the short length includes at least a portion of the area.

A method of enhancing the security of a suture knot, the method comprising:

• tying the suture to form the knot;
• momentarily applying heat to a last throw of the knot such that a first portion of the suture fuses to a second portion of the suture;
• and
• cutting a first limb and a second limb.

An apparatus that enhances the security of a synthetic suture knot, the apparatus comprising:

• means for placing a first length of a first limb of the knot in contact with a second length of a second limb of the knot;
• means for momentarily applying heat to at least a first portion of the first limb and a second portion of the second limb while maintaining the contact between the first and the second lengths, wherein the applied heat is sufficient to fuse the first and the second portions into a fused portion;
• and
• means for cutting the first limb and the second limb distal to the fused portion.

An annealing device to enhance the security of a synthetic knot tied in a liquid environment, the annealing device comprising:

• a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the shaft is adapted to slide into a hollow tube;
• a tip coupled to the distal end of the shaft, where the tip is insulated to decrease an amount of heat transferred from the tip to the liquid environment;
• a channel within the tip having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the channel is adapted to allow the passage of a pair of suture tails from the knot;
• and
• a heating element coupled to the channel, wherein the heating element heats the channel such that the temperature of the suture tails within the channel is increased.

An annealing device to enhance the security of a synthetic knot tied in a liquid environment, the annealing device comprising:

• a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the shaft is adapted to slide into a hollow tube;
• a tip coupled to the distal end of the shaft, where the tip is insulated to decrease an amount of heat transferred from the tip to the liquid environment;
• a heating surface within the tip that is adapted to contact an uppermost throw of the suture knot;
• and
• a heating element coupled to the heating surface, where the heating element heats the heating surface such that the suture throws in contact with the heating surface at least partially fuse.