# US 2023/0144510 A1 · Joining Element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0144510 A1 - Document ID: US20230144510A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/932,038 - Filed: 2022-09-14 - Published: 2023-05-11 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-04 - Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. - Applicants: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. - Inventors: Joerg Mayer; Jochen Ganz; Beat Keller; Ralph Hertel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230144510A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)} - A61B 17/04: for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials - A61L 17/00: Materials for surgical sutures or for ligaturing blood vessels (surgical adhesives A61L24/00; surgical instruments, devices or methods for suturing or ligaturing A61B17/04, A61B17/12; supports or packages for suture materials A61B17/04); {Materials for prostheses or catheters (bone cements or surgical adhesives for soft body tissues A61L24/00; shape or structure of prostheses A61F2/00; shape or structure of catheters A61M5/00)} - A61L 17/005: {containing a biologically active substance, e.g. a medicament or a biocide} - B29C 61/0608: {characterised by the configuration or structure of the preforms} - 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) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract Disclosed is a joining element (10), especially a suture material for surgical use. The joining element (10) is composed of a first material (12) that is essentially rigid during impingement by a relatively short-lasting tensile load on opposite sides as well as a second material (11) which is connected to the first material. The second material is substantially rigid during impingement by said tensile load on opposite sides while contracting slowly during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A joining element comprising: a core having a length that extends along a longitudinal direction, the core comprising a polymer material and an osmotically active substance distributed within the polymer material, wherein the core has a volume capable of swelling along a transverse direction that is perpindicular to the longitudinal direction upon exposure to a fluid; and, a diffusion-controlling extendable membrane that surrounds at least a portion of the length of the core, wherein the membrane is configured to regulate hydration of the core by the fluid, and is further configured to expand along the transverse direction in response to swelling of the core. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The joining element of claim 1, wherein the core comprises an elastomer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The joining element of claim 1, wherein the osmotically active substance has an isotropic distribution within the polymer material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The joining element of claim 1, wherein the osmotically active substance has a variable distribution density within the polymer material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The joining element of claim 4, wherein the variable distribution density varies radially with respect to the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The joining element of claim 1, wherein the osmotically active substance comprises a biocompatible inorganic salt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The joining element of claim 6, wherein the biocompatible inorganic salt is sodium chloride. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The joining element of claim 1, wherein the membrane is an elastomer membrane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The joining element of claim 1, wherein the membrane is further configured to regulate the flow of the osmotically active substance out of the core. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The joining element of claim 8, further comprising an sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the core along the longitudinal direction and defining a length in the longitudinal direction between opposed ends of the outer sleeve, wherein upon exposure of the fluid to the osmotically active substance, the osmotically active substance causes the core to swell against the sleeve in the transverse direction and decrease the length of the sleeve with respect to the longitudinal direction.