Monofilament suture and process for its manufacture

• US 5,456,696 A
• Filed: 07/20/1993
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Liu, Cheng-Kung
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/094,816
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 606/228-231, 264/210.8, 264/289.6, 264/290.5, 264/235.6, 428/375, 428/421
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/14 Post-treatment to improve physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/625 derived from hydroxy-carboxylic acids, e.g. lactones

Abstract

A process and apparatus are provided for preparing monofilament sutures of improved physical characteristics.

Claims

1. A monofilament suture manufacturing process comprising the steps of melt extruding and quenching a polymer to provide a solidified monofilament;

subjecting the monofilament to one or more subsequent operations selected from the group consisting of drawing, stretching, heating and annealing; and

exposing the monofilament to ambient conditions for a predetermined period of time of about 2 minutes to about 30 minutes prior to subjecting the monofilament to the subsequent operation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the monofilament is exposed to ambient conditions for a period of time ranging from about 5 minutes to about 20 minutes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer comprises a bioabsorbable polymer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the bioabsorbable polymer comprises a homopolymer, copolymer or blend obtained from one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of glycolide, glycolic acid, lactide, lactic acid, p-dioxanone, epsilon-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the bioabsorbable polymer comprises a blend of homopolymers or copolymers obtained from one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of glycolide, glycolic acid, lactide, lactic acid, p-dioxanone, epsilon-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a nonbioabsorbable polymer.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the nonbioabsorbable polymer is polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and polyvinylidene fluoride.