Braided suture

• US 20050119696A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clarke, Steven R., Walters, Troy M., Stone, Kevin T.
• Application Number:
  US10/785,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/228
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06019 by means of a suture-receiving lateral eyelet machined in the needle lateral opening for attaching suture to suture anchor A61B2017/0414
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06028 by means of a cylindrical longitudinal blind bore machined at the suture-receiving end of the needle, e.g. opposite to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06185 hollow or tubular hollow suture needles A61B2017/061

Abstract

A suture for a suture anchor or surgical needle. The suture is a tubular sheath defining an empty bore and is braided using biocompatible filaments of the same or different materials. The sheath has a flattened annular cross-section.

Claims

1. A suture comprising a tubular braided sheath having a flattened annular cross-section defining an empty bore.

2. The suture of claim 1, further comprising pluralities of first and second filaments oppositely spirally inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the sheath.

3. The suture of claim 2, wherein the first and second filaments comprise different materials.

4. The suture of claim 2, wherein the first and second filaments are made of biocompatible materials.

5. The suture of claim 2, wherein the first and second filaments are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, nylon, polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins, and fluorocopolymers.

6. The suture of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of axial filaments interwoven with the first and second filaments.

7. The suture of claim 6, wherein at least one filament is of contrasting color.

8. The suture of claim 6, wherein the first, second and axial filaments comprise polyester.

9. The suture of claim 6, wherein the axial filaments are of high tenacity and low elongation.

10. The suture of claim 9, wherein the axial filaments comprise ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

11. The suture of claim 10, wherein the first and second filaments comprise ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

12. The suture of claim 9, wherein the first and second filaments comprise polyester.

13. The suture of claim 2, further comprising a lubricity coating.

14. The suture of claim 2, wherein each filament comprises a lubricity coating.

15. The suture of claim 1 in combination with a surgical needle.

16. The suture of claim 1 in combination with a suture anchor.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the suture anchor has an elongated eyelet providing contact and load distribution along a width of the suture.

18. The suture of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a width to thickness ratio greater than 1.

19. The suture of claim 18, wherein the width to thickness ratio reduces knot back-out.

20. The suture of claim 18, wherein the width to thickness ratio reduces soft tissue damage.

21. The suture of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a width to thickness ratio greater than 1.5.

22. The suture of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a width to thickness ratio greater than 2.

23. A method of making a suture comprising:

providing a mandrel;

braiding pluralities of first and second filaments around the mandrel to form a sheath; and

removing the mandrel to form an empty bore.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising braiding a plurality of axial filaments with the first and second filaments.

25. A method of suturing comprising:

providing a flattened tubular braided suture;

loading the suture to a suture device;

deploying the suture device; and

tying a suture knot.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein providing a braided suture includes providing a suture having pluralities of first and second filaments oppositely spirally inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the suture, and a plurality of axial filaments interwoven with the first and second filaments.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the suture device is a suture anchor.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the suture device is a surgical needle.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein tying a suture knot comprises compressing a width of the suture inside the knot such that the width of the suture is narrower inside the knot that outside the knot.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein deploying the suture device comprises passing the suture through tissue using the suture device.