Method for variable-angle cutting of a suture to create tissue retainers of a desired shape and size
AssigneeQuill Medical, Inc.
InventorsPerry Genova, Robert C. Williams, III, Warren Jewett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a self-retaining suture is disclosed. A cutting bed supports the suture during cutting. A cutting device is moved through the suture thread along a selected path. The angle of the cutting device is changed during cutting. A cutting arm is articulated to allow change of the angle of the cutting device. The change in the angle of the cutting device is used to control the depth of cut and/or elevate a tissue-retainer away from the suture to better engage tissue.
Claims20
A method for cutting barbs on a suture thread having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- (a) setting the suture thread on a support;
- (b) moving a blade along a selected path relative to the support whereby the blade passes through the suture thread to create a first barb at a first location on the suture thread;
- (c) changing the angle of the blade during step (b);
- (d) indexing the suture thread wherein indexing the suture thread includes at least one of rotating the suture thread about the longitudinal axis and translating the suture thread along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- (e) moving the blade along said selected path relative to the support whereby the blade passes through the suture thread to create a second barb at a second location on the suture thread.
A method for making cuts having a preselected configuration in a suture thread having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- (a) setting the suture thread on a support;
- (b) contacting the suture thread with a cutting device;
- (c1) moving the cutting device along a preselected path through the suture thread to make a cut in the suture thread where the preselected path includes at least two of,
- a transverse x-axis component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread,
- a longitudinal y-axis component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread,
- a depth z-axis component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread and the transverse to the x-axis, and
- an oscillating component;
- (c2) during (c1) changing the angle of the cutting device;
- (d) indexing the suture thread wherein indexing the suture thread includes at least one of rotating the suture thread about the longitudinal axis and translating the suture thread along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- (e) moving the cutting device along said preselected path to create another cut in the suture thread.
A method for cutting a suture thread having a surface and a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- (a) setting the suture thread on a support;
- (b) contacting the suture thread with a blade having an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread;
- (c1) moving the blade along a preselected path to make a first angled cut in the surface of the suture thread without cutting entirely through the suture thread, where the preselected path includes at least one of,
- a transverse x-axis component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread,
- a longitudinal y-axis component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread, and
- a depth z-axis component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread and the transverse x-axis;
- (c2) during (c1) changing the angle of the blade;
- (d) rotating the suture thread about the longitudinal axis;
- (e1) moving the blade along said preselected path to make a second angled cut in the surface of the suture thread without cutting entirely through the suture thread;
- and
- (e2) during (e1) changing the angle of the blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.