Variable denier yarn and suture

A method of suturing, comprising:

• threading a first segment of a suture through an opening of a surgical instrument, wherein the first segment comprises a plurality of first strands, the first segment having a substantially constant first denier;
• and
• pulling the suture through tissue to place a second segment of the suture against soft tissue, wherein the second segment comprises a plurality of second strands, the second segment having a substantially constant second denier;
• wherein the first and second segments are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the suture;
• wherein there are more second strands in the second segment than first strands in the first segment such that the second denier is greater than the first denier;
• and
• wherein a first portion of the plurality of second strands is made from a first plurality of yarn elements that extend through the first segment and the second segment, and wherein a second portion of the plurality of second strands is made from a second plurality of yarn elements that are present in the second segment and not the first segment, the first portion integrated around the second portion wherein ends of the second plurality of yarn elements are positioned along an axis that is oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis.

A method of manufacturing a suture, comprising:

• braiding a plurality of strands together into a tubular braid;
• introducing a constant denier segment into a radial center of the tubular braid such that a textile yarn having a first segment and a second segment is formed, the second segment having a greater denier than the first segment;
• introducing a plurality of additional constant denier segments into the radial center of the tubular braid such that a plurality of first segments and a plurality of second segments are formed, the first and second segments arranged in an alternating pattern along the length of the textile yarn;
• and
• cutting the textile yarn such that a plurality of sutures having a first segment and a second segment are formed.