Optimized suture braid

• US 20060155328A1
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Opus Medical, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Foerster, Seth A.
• Application Number:
  US10/803,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155328A1
• 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 2017/0619 thermoplastic, e.g. for bonding, welding, fusing or cutting the suture by melting it
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/10 containing macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/145 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2203/12 used for fibers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/06 Polyethene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/00 Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain of polyester-amides C08L77/12; of polyester-imides C08L79/08; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/12 Cords, lines, or tows
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/025 comprising high modulus, or high tenacity, polymer filaments or fibres, e.g. liquid-crystal polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/162 characterised by a plastic or rubber enveloping sheathing
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2012 comprising polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2044 comprising polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2088 having multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/209 comprising braided structures
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2205/2014 High performance polyolefins, e.g. Dyneema or Spectra
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2801/10 Smallest filamentary entity of a rope or strand, i.e. wire, filament, fiber or yarn

Abstract

A high strength abrasion resistant surgical suture material with industry standard knot tying characteristics and color marking characteristics includes a core formed of a plurality of twisted fibers of a first material, surrounded by a braided cover made from fibers of a second material different than the first material. The first material is preferably ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and the second material is preferably a polymeric material having good knot-tying characteristics.

Claims

1. A suture strand suitable for use as a suture or ligature, comprising:

a core including a plurality of core fibers made of a first material; and

a cover surrounding the core, the cover including a plurality of cover fibers made of a second material different than the first material.

2. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the core fibers are arranged in a twisted bundle.

3. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the core consists solely of core fibers of the first material.

4. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cover fibers are arranged to form a woven annular braid.

5. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the cover consists solely of cover fibers of the second material.

6. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a high tensile strength material.

7. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the first material is a high molecular weight, high tenacity material.

8. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the first material is ultrahigh molecular weight long chain polyethylene.

9. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the second material is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of PET, polyester, coated urethanes, and mixtures thereof.

10. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the second material is substantially opaque.

11. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the first material is substantially transparent.

12. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein each of the core fibers comprises a bundle of filaments of the first material.

13. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein each of the cover fibers comprises a bundle of filaments of the second material.

14. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein each of the core fibers is substantially circular in cross section.

15. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein each of the core fibers is substantially wedge-shaped in cross-section.

16. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises:

a sub-core comprising at least one core fiber; and

an outer ring comprising a plurality of core fibers surrounding the sub-core.

17. A suture strand according to claim 16, wherein the sub-core comprises a single core fiber.

18. A suture strand according to claim 16, wherein the sub-core comprises a plurality of core fibers arranged in a twisted bundle.

19. A suture strand according to claim 16, wherein the outer ring comprises an annular woven braid of core fibers.

20. A suture strand according to claim 14, wherein:

each of the cover fibers is substantially circular in cross-section and has a first diameter; and

each of the core fibers has a diameter greater than the first diameter.

21. A suture strand according to claim 15, wherein:

each of the cover fibers is substantially circular in cross-section and has a first diameter; and

each of the core fibers has a length greater than the first diameter.

22. A suture strand according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the cover fibers comprises a bundle of cover filaments, each cover filament having a substantially circular cross-section and a cover filament diameter; and

each of the core fibers comprises a bundle of core filaments, each core filament having a substantially circular cross-section and a core filament diameter, wherein the core filament diameter of each of the core filaments is greater than the cover filament diameter of any of the cover filaments.

23. A suture strand suitable for use as a suture or ligature, comprising:

a core including a plurality of core fibers consisting solely of a first material; and

a cover surrounding the core, the cover including a plurality of cover fibers consisting solely of a second material different than the first material.

24. A suture strand according to claim 23, wherein the first material comprises a high tensile strength material.

25. A suture strand according to claim 23, wherein the first material is a high molecular weight, high tenacity material.

26. A suture strand according to claim 23, wherein the first material is ultrahigh molecular weight long chain polyethylene.

27. A suture strand according to claim 23, wherein the second material is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of PET, polyester, coated urethanes, and mixtures thereof.

28. A suture strand according to claim 23, wherein the second material is substantially opaque.

29. A suture strand according to claim 23, wherein the first material is substantially transparent.

30. A suture strand according to claim 23, wherein the core comprises:

a sub-core comprising at least one core fiber; and

an outer ring comprising a plurality of core fibers surrounding the sub-core.

31. A suture strand according to claim 30, wherein the sub-core comprises a single core fiber.

32. A suture strand according to claim 30, wherein the sub-core comprises a plurality of core fibers arranged in a twisted bundle.

33. A suture strand according to claim 30, wherein the outer ring comprises an annular woven braid of core fibers.