High-Density Self-Retaining Sutures, Manufacturing Equipment and Methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A self-retaining suture comprising:
- a suture thread with a plurality of retainers distributed along the suture thread;
wherein the plurality of retainers is distributed at a density of about at least 100 retainers per inch along a length of the suture thread; and
wherein the plurality of retainers is distributed in a pattern selected from;
a quadra-helix pattern;
a double-helix pattern; and
a single helix pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-retaining suture has a suture thread less than 1 millimeter nominal diameter. A plurality of retainers is cut into the suture thread using a high accuracy retainer cutting machine. The retainer cutting machine has sufficient accuracy and repeatability to cut consistent and effective retainers at high density on suture threads less than 1 mm nominal diameter.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A self-retaining suture comprising:
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a suture thread with a plurality of retainers distributed along the suture thread; wherein the plurality of retainers is distributed at a density of about at least 100 retainers per inch along a length of the suture thread; and wherein the plurality of retainers is distributed in a pattern selected from;
a quadra-helix pattern;
a double-helix pattern; and
a single helix pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A self-retaining suture comprising:
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a suture thread; a plurality of retainers distributed along the suture thread; wherein the suture thread has a suture diameter (SD) no greater than about 300 μ
m;wherein the retainers have a cut depth (C) between 5% and 35% of the suture diameter (SD); wherein the retainers have a retainer length (L) greater than 50% of the suture diameter (SD); and wherein the retainers are distributed at a density greater than 2 retainers per suture diameters (SD) in length of suture thread. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A self-retaining suture comprising a suture thread and a plurality of retainers distributed along the suture thread wherein:
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the suture thread has a suture diameter (SD) no greater than 300 μ
m;the retainers have a retainer length L greater than 20% of the suture diameter (SD); and the retainers are distributed at a density greater than 200 retainers per inch. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A self-retaining medical device comprising:
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a suture having a diameter less than about 350 μ
m and greater than about 250 μ
m,the suture having a longitudinal axis; a plurality of retainers, each retainer being formed by an angled cut into a section of the suture; each retainer having a retainer length measured along said axis wherein the retainer length is greater than about 300 μ
m and less than about 500 μ
m;the retainers being distributed in pairs, each pair comprising a first retainer and a second retainer; wherein the second retainer of each pair is positioned at substantially the same position along the axis and substantially 180 degrees around said axis from the first retainer of each pair; wherein for each pair of retainers there is at least one adjacent pair of retainers; wherein each pair of retainers is displaced by a pitch length along the axis and substantially 90 degrees around said axis relative to the adjacent pair of retainers; wherein the pitch length is no less than about 300 μ
m and no greater than about 550 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A self-retaining medical device comprising:
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a suture having a suture diameter and a longitudinal axis, a plurality of retainers, each retainer being formed by an angled cut into a section of the suture; each retainer having a retainer length greater than one suture diameter measured along said axis; the retainers being distributed in pairs, each pair comprising a first retainer and a second retainer at substantially the same position along the axis but on the opposite side of the suture; wherein for each pair of retainers there is at least one adjacent pair of retainers; and wherein the retainers of each pair of retainers are displaced by a pitch length less than two suture diameters along the axis and substantially 90 degrees around said axis relative to the retainers of the adjacent pair of retainers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A self-retaining medical device comprising:
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a USP 2-0 polypropylene monofilament suture having a longitudinal axis, a plurality of retainers, each retainer being formed by an angled cut into a section of the suture; each retainer having a retainer length greater than 400 nm measured along said axis; the retainers being distributed in pairs, each pair comprising a first retainer and a second retainer at substantially the same position along the axis but on the opposite side of the suture; wherein for each pair of retainers there is at least one adjacent pair of retainers; and wherein the retainers of each pair of retainers are displaced by a pitch length no greater than about 550 μ
m along the axis and substantially 90 degrees around said axis relative to the retainers of the adjacent pair of retainers. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A device adapted to form a retainer on a suture having a suture diameter (SD) wherein the device comprises:
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an anvil adapted to support a suture; said anvil including a gap aligned with the suture and adapted for receiving at least a part of the suture; a spring adapted to hold the suture against said anvil and within said gap; and a cutting blade adapted to cut a retainer in the suture when the spring holds the suture against said anvil and within said gap.
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17. A device adapted to form a plurality of retainers in a surgical filament comprising:
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an anvil adapted to support the surgical filament; said anvil including a gap aligned with the surgical filament adapted for receiving a portion of the surgical filament; a compressor adapted to push the surgical filament against said anvil such that a portion of the surgical filament is received in the gap; and a retainer formation device adapted to form a retainer in the surgical filament adjacent the compressor.
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18. A device adapted to form a plurality of retainers along a suture, the retainers being spaced at a pitch (P) along the suture, and the suture having a suture diameter (SD), the device comprising:
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an anvil adapted to support the suture; a compressor adapted to push the suture against said anvil; a step in the anvil adapted to distance the anvil from the suture; a retainer formation device adapted to form a retainer in a suture at a position between the compressor and the step; and wherein said retainer formation device is positioned so as to form a retainer at a distance from the step which is less than the pitch (P). - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A device adapted to form a plurality of retainers along a surgical filament having a diameter SD, wherein the device comprises:
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a compressor, a blade, and an anvil; the anvil comprising a support surface adapted for supporting the surgical filament; the support surface comprising a channel aligned with a longitudinal axis of the surgical filament; the channel having a width W greater than 0.5SD and less than 0.9SD; the support surface having a step which intersects the channel; the compressor being positioned to push the surgical filament against the support surface of the anvil within a distance L of the step, where L<
4SD; andthe blade being configured to cut a retainer in the surgical filament at a position between the compressor and the step.
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22. A method for creating a plurality of retainers on a suture thread having a longitudinal axis and a suture diameter (SD) wherein the method comprises:
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(a) securing the suture thread to a support; (b) operating a cutting blade to move along a cutting axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread to cut a retainer of length L in the suture thread; (c) releasing the suture thread from the support; (d) rotating the suture thread around the longitudinal axis of the suture thread; (e) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) at least once; (f) subsequent to step (e), releasing the suture thread from the support and advancing the suture thread a distance P along its longitudinal axis relative to the cutting blade; and (g) repeating steps (a) through (f) at least ten times. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification