Method of forming barbs on a suture and apparatus for performing same
AssigneeQuill Medical, Inc.
InventorsPerry A. Genova, Robert C. Williams, III, Warren Jewett, Matthew A. Megaro
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Abstract
A method of making a barbed suture by varying the blade geometry and/or the movement of the blade when cutting a suture is disclosed. The method can also be accomplished with a cutting device to create a plurality of barbs on the exterior of surgical suture. The barbs produced using the method with the cutting device can be the same or random configurations.
Claims37
A method of cutting barbs on a suture having a longitudinal axis, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a suture;
- providing a cutting blade;
- creating a barb on said suture by the motion of the blade which takes into account a cutting action by the blade on the suture in three dimensions along x-y-z axes of the suture caused by blade geometry in conjunction with blade motion;
- and
- providing a means for moving the blade to cause said cutting action to create the barb.
An apparatus for cutting barbs on a suture having a longitudinal axis, said apparatus comprising:
- a cutting bed on which the suture is maintained in place during cutting;
- at least one blade;
- means for moving said at least one blade in a predetermined manner across the suture with the movement or geometry of said at least one blade producing at least one barb on said suture.
A method of cutting a barb on a suture, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a suture having a longitudinal axis;
- twisting said suture along its longitudinal axis;
- and
- cutting a barb on said suture when in its twisted state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.