Self-retaining variable loop sutures
First Claim
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1. A self-retaining suture comprising:
- a. a needle having a first diameter;
b. a suture comprising;
i. a first end for penetrating tissue, wherein the first end is attached to the needle;
ii. an elongated suture body having a periphery;
iii. a first plurality of retainers on the periphery of the elongated body and oriented to the first end, the first plurality of retainers yielding toward the suture body during movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of deployment of the first end, and resisting movement of the suture, when in tissue, in a direction substantially opposite the direction of deployment of the first end; and
iv. a second end having a variable loop of variable circumference, wherein the variable loop includes a fixed loop slidably engaging the elongated body for slidingly varying the circumference of the variable loop, wherein the fixed loop has no retainers on its surface and said fixed loop is formed by passing a non-deployment terminus of the suture body around and back upon itself and attaching said non-deployment terminus to the suture body such that said non-deployment terminus is located outside the interior of the fixed loop, wherein the fixed loop has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter that is configured to prevent the needle from passing through the fixed loop, and wherein the first end is configured to pass through the variable loop to secure tissue as an anchor, the anchor preventing movement of the suture in the direction of deployment of the first end.
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Abstract
A suture having a first end for penetrating tissue, an elongated suture body having a periphery; a plurality of retainers on the periphery, and a second end having a variable loop of variable circumference, wherein the variable loop includes a fixed loop slidably engaging the elongated body for slidingly varying the circumference of the variable loop, and wherein the first end may pass through the variable loop to secure tissue as an anchor, the anchor preventing movement of the suture in the direction of deployment of the first end.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-retaining suture comprising:
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a. a needle having a first diameter; b. a suture comprising; i. a first end for penetrating tissue, wherein the first end is attached to the needle; ii. an elongated suture body having a periphery; iii. a first plurality of retainers on the periphery of the elongated body and oriented to the first end, the first plurality of retainers yielding toward the suture body during movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of deployment of the first end, and resisting movement of the suture, when in tissue, in a direction substantially opposite the direction of deployment of the first end; and iv. a second end having a variable loop of variable circumference, wherein the variable loop includes a fixed loop slidably engaging the elongated body for slidingly varying the circumference of the variable loop, wherein the fixed loop has no retainers on its surface and said fixed loop is formed by passing a non-deployment terminus of the suture body around and back upon itself and attaching said non-deployment terminus to the suture body such that said non-deployment terminus is located outside the interior of the fixed loop, wherein the fixed loop has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter that is configured to prevent the needle from passing through the fixed loop, and wherein the first end is configured to pass through the variable loop to secure tissue as an anchor, the anchor preventing movement of the suture in the direction of deployment of the first end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of suturing comprising:
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a. providing a self-retaining system comprising a suture needle and a self-retaining suture, the self-retaining suture comprising a suture thread having a thread diameter, a plurality of tissue retainers and an eyelet, said eyelet formed by passing a non-deployment terminus of the suture thread around and back upon itself and attaching said non-deployment terminus to the suture thread such that said non-deployment terminus is located outside the interior of the eyelet, where the suture thread passes through the eyelet to form a variable loop having an original diameter, wherein the suture needle is attached to an end of the self-retaining suture after the variable loop is formed, wherein the suture needle has a first diameter and the eyelet has a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter to prevent the suture needle from passing through the eyelet; b. inserting the needle into the tissue of a patient at a first tissue location after passing the suture thread through the eyelet to form the variable loop; c. withdrawing the needle from the tissue of the patient at a second tissue location; d. passing the needle and at least some of the suture thread through the variable loop; and e. inserting the needle into the tissue of the patient at a third tissue location. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of suturing comprising:
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a. providing a self-retaining suture, the self-retaining suture comprising a suture thread having a thread diameter, a plurality of tissue retainers and an eyelet, said eyelet formed by passing a non-deployment terminus of the suture thread around and back upon itself and attaching said non-deployment terminus to the suture thread such that said non-deployment terminus is located outside the interior of the eyelet; b. passing the suture thread through the eyelet to form a variable loop having an original diameter after providing the self-retaining system; c. attaching a suture needle to an end of the self-retaining suture, wherein the suture needle has a first diameter and the eyelet has a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter to prevent the suture needle from passing through the eyelet; d. inserting the needle into the tissue of a patient at a first tissue location after passing the suture thread through the eyelet to form the variable loop; e. withdrawing the needle from the tissue of the patient at a second tissue location; and f. passing the needle and at least some of the suture thread through the variable loop. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification