Barbed suture

• US 20070005109A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Lindh, David, Popadiuk, Nicholas, Egidio, Dominick
• Granted Patent: US 8,267,961 B2
• 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 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs

Abstract

A barbed monofilament and a method for making the same is provided. The barbed monofilament has a substantially triangular primary cross-section defined by a periphery including first, second and third points of said triangle, and further has a plurality of barbs formed therein. Successive barbs are staggered around the periphery of the monofilament, and extend inwardly into the monofilament to a predetermined depth from the first, second and third points respectively.

Claims

1. A barbed monofilament comprising a substantially triangular primary cross-section defined by a periphery including first, second and third points of said triangle, and a plurality of barbs formed therein, wherein successive barbs are staggered around the periphery of the monofilament, and extend inwardly into the monofilament to a predetermined depth from the first, second and third points respectively.

2. The barbed monofilament according to claim 1, wherein the primary cross-section is substantially an equilateral triangle, and wherein the barbs are successively staggered at approximately 120 degree intervals.

3. The barbed monofilament according to claim 1, wherein successive barbs are formed at a predetermined distance from one another along a length of the monofilament.

4. The barbed monofilament according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined distance is substantially within the range of 0 to 0.99 inches.

5. The barbed monofilament according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined distance is approximately 1/32 of an inch.

6. The barbed monofilament according to claim 1, wherein the barbed monofilament is comprised of a non-absorbable material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides and polyvinylidene fluoride.

7. The barbed monofilament according to claim 1, wherein the barbed monofilament is comprised of an absorbable material selected from the group consisting of polydioxinone and caprolactone co-glycolide.

8. The barbed monofilament according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined depth is within the range of approximately 0.002 to 0.008 inches.

9. The barbed monofilament according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined depth is approximately 0.004 inches.

10. The barbed monofilament according to claim 1, wherein the substantially triangular primary cross-section is a substantially equilateral triangle having a height, and wherein the predetermined depth is approximately within the range of 15-65 percent of the height.

11. The barbed monofilament according to claim 1, wherein a length of each barb is within the range of approximately 0.02 to 0.08 inches.

12. The barbed monofilament according to claim 11, wherein the length of each barb is approximately 0.04 inches.

13. The barbed monofilament according to claim 11, wherein a distal portion of each barb is defined by a cut extending at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the monofilament.

14. The barbed monofilament according to claim 13, wherein a proximal portion of each barb is defined by a cut extending at an angle of approximately zero degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the monofilament.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the barb forming step further comprises, for each barb, cutting the monofilament for a first distance using a cutting element positioned at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the monofilament.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the barb forming step further comprises, for each barb, following the angled cutting step, further cutting the monofilament for a predetermined distance at an angle of approximately 0 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the monofilament.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein a length of each of said barbs is within the range of approximately 0.037 to 0.045 inches.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the length of each of said barbs is approximately 0.41 inches.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined depth is approximately within the range of 0.002 to 0.008 inches.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined depth is approximately 0.004 inches.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the substantially triangular primary cross-section is a substantially equilateral triangle having a height, and wherein the predetermined depth is approximately 15 to 65 percent of the height.

15. A method for forming a barbed monofilament comprising the steps of:

providing a monofilament having a substantially triangular primary cross-section defined by a periphery including first second and third points of the triangle; and

forming a plurality of sets of barbs in said monofilament, wherein each set includes first, second and third barbs extending inwardly to a predetermined depth from the first second and third points respectively.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first, second and third barbs are also separated by substantially equal predetermined distances along a length of said monofilament.

24. A barbed monofilament comprising a substantially triangular primary cross-section defined by a periphery including first, second and third points of said triangle, and a plurality of barbs formed therein including at least first, second and third barbs substantially centered around the first, second and third points respectively.

25. The monofilament according to claim 24, wherein the first, second and third barbs are formed at successive predetermined intervals along a length of the monofilament.