Single-tailed suturing method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A suture having a structure comprising:
- a plurality of flexible filaments loosely woven together in a tubular geometry comprising an outer wall which defines an internal lumen;
wherein when a first portion of said suture is placed under compression, the outer wall of said first portion is radially expanded, such that a diameter of said first portion internal lumen increases in size sufficiently so that a second portion of said suture structure, which is not under compression, may be accommodated within said first portion lumen;
such that when said suture first portion is subsequently placed under tension, while said suture second portion is disposed within the first portion lumen, the diameter of the first portion lumen decreases sufficiently to capture said suture second portion therein to create a binding interface between the first and second suture portions, thereby locking said second suture portion in axial position within the lumen of said first suture portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suture loop is formed in a hollow braided suture by feeding one end of a length of suture through a part in the braid of the suture and into the inner lumen formed by the hollow braid. The braided configuration of the suture allows it to be expanded in diameter by pushing and reduced in diameter by pulling. Said end of suture is passed continuously through said inner lumen forming a loop of suture with a single tail. The loop may be tightened by pulling on said first end of the suture while pushing on said outer hollow braid. The loop may be locked by extending or pulling on said outer hollow braid to reduce its diameter and lock it down around said first end of the suture.
241 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A suture having a structure comprising:
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a plurality of flexible filaments loosely woven together in a tubular geometry comprising an outer wall which defines an internal lumen;
wherein when a first portion of said suture is placed under compression, the outer wall of said first portion is radially expanded, such that a diameter of said first portion internal lumen increases in size sufficiently so that a second portion of said suture structure, which is not under compression, may be accommodated within said first portion lumen;
such that when said suture first portion is subsequently placed under tension, while said suture second portion is disposed within the first portion lumen, the diameter of the first portion lumen decreases sufficiently to capture said suture second portion therein to create a binding interface between the first and second suture portions, thereby locking said second suture portion in axial position within the lumen of said first suture portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A single-tailed suture for securing a plurality of body components together, comprising:
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a length of braided suturing material having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and comprising a braided outer wall which defines an internal lumen, wherein said braided suturing material extends through one of said body components;
a distal end of said braided suturing material extending through the outer wall of said proximal portion so that a predetermined length of said distal suture portion being disposed within the lumen of a predetermined length of said proximal suture portion, said predetermined length of said proximal suture portion being in tension to create a binding interface between the predetermined length of said distal suture portion and the predetermined length of said proximal suture portion to create a suture loop. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of suturing a plurality of body components together, using a length of braided suturing material which comprises a plurality of flexible filaments loosely woven together in a tubular geometry comprising an outer wall which defines an internal lumen, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) inserting a distal end of said suturing material through a portion of a first one of said body components;
b) compressing a predetermined length of a portion of said braided suturing material which is proximal to said first body component, such that an internal diameter of the lumen of said compressed suture portion increases substantially in size;
c) inserting a distal end of said length of braided suturing material through the outer wall of said compressed suture portion and into the internal lumen thereof, so that a desired length of said braided suturing material which is distal to said first body component is disposed within the internal lumen of said compressed suture portion; and
d) applying tension to said compressed suture portion to decrease the internal diameter of its lumen, to thereby create a binding interface between the compressed suture portion and the suturing material disposed in its lumen, so that a suture loop of a desired length is formed. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification