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US 2016/0106422 A1Published application
Suture Having a Restraining Element at an End and Method and Use Thereof
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Lindh, SR., Robert A. Rousseau, Darrell J. Lindh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Polymeric fibers, and apparatuses for and methods of processing such fibers to be useful as sutures, where at least one end of a fiber includes a termination feature. The termination feature is formed through the application of energy to a coiled region of the fiber.
Claims21
A suture comprising:
- a. a suture having a first end and second end and a length therebetween;
- b. a termination feature at the second end;
- and
- c. a plurality of retainers formed on the surface of said length of suture;
- wherein said termination feature comprises a coiled portion of said suture that has been subjected to exertion of energy to weld the coil into a stable anchor for said suture.
2 more elements
A method of forming a suture comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a length of suture material, said suture having a first end and second end and a length therebetween, and said suture including a plurality of retainers formed on the surface of the length of suture;
- b. winding said second end about a winding pin to form a coil, such that the coil does not become entangled;
- c. subjecting said coiled second end to application of energy, said energy being sufficient to melt at least a portion of said coiled second end and form a solid unitary termination feature.
A method of continuously forming at least two sutures, each suture having a termination feature at a distal end, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a suture fiber having a first end and a second end, and an axial length suitable to form a termination feature-containing suture, said suture fiber being contained in such a fashion that the first end of the suture may be pulled though a winding pin without damage to the suture fiber;
- b. inserting said first end of said suture through a first end of a winding pin and out the second end of the winding pin, where the winding pin is disposed within an open interior of a welding die;
- c. gripping said first end of the suture with a gripping element, and pulling the first end of the suture in approximately a 90 degree angle with regard to the central axis of the winding pin;
- d. causing the suture to be wound about the outside of the winding pin so as to create a coil of suture;
- e. moving a welding horn into contact with said coil of suture;
- f. applying energy to the coil of suture so as to deform the coil of suture;
- g. allowing said deformed coil of suture to solidify to form a termination feature;
- and
- h. optionally, severing the suture at a location between the termination feature and the second end of the suture.
6 more elements
An apparatus for forming a suture having a termination feature comprising:
- a. a welding horn having a welding tip;
- b. a welding die having an open interior sized to be similar to the welding tip;
- c. a winding pin disposed within the open interior of the welding die, the winding pin having a first end and second end and an open axial center connecting the first end and second end;
- d. a gripping element.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.