Apparatus and method for forming barbs on a suture
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for cutting barbs into a filament for forming a barbed suture, the apparatus comprising:
- a filament supply means;
an in-feed collet for holding the filament at a first position along the filament, the filament threaded through the in-feed collet;
an out-feed collet for holding a filament at a second position along the filament, the second position spaced from the first position, the filament threaded through the out-feed collet;
a holder positioned between said in-feed and out-feed collets for holding the filament between said in-feed and out-feed collets;
a cutting assembly for cutting barbs in the filament between said in-feed and out feed collets; and
a filament advancement means for advancing the filament.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for cutting barbs into a suture having a filament supply. The apparatus also has an in-feed collet for holding one end of a filament threaded therethrough. Further the apparatus has an out-feed collet for holding a second end of a filament threaded therethrough. Additionally, the apparatus has a holder positioned between said in-feed and out-feed collets for holding a filament suspended between the in-feed and out-feed collets. The apparatus also has a cutting assembly for cutting barbs in the filament tensioned between the in-feed and out-feed collets.
267 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus for cutting barbs into a filament for forming a barbed suture, the apparatus comprising:
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a filament supply means; an in-feed collet for holding the filament at a first position along the filament, the filament threaded through the in-feed collet; an out-feed collet for holding a filament at a second position along the filament, the second position spaced from the first position, the filament threaded through the out-feed collet; a holder positioned between said in-feed and out-feed collets for holding the filament between said in-feed and out-feed collets; a cutting assembly for cutting barbs in the filament between said in-feed and out feed collets; and a filament advancement means for advancing the filament. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A barb cutting apparatus for cutting barbs into a filament for forming a barbed suture, the apparatus comprising:
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a first cutter; a first directional feed motor for moving said first cutter; a second cutter; a second directional feed motor for moving said second cutter; a grasping tool for holding the filament; and a third directional feed motor for moving said grasping tool; wherein the first and second cutters cut barbs into the filament and the grasping tool advances the filament after cutting of the barbs. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A holder for securing a suture in preparation for the cutting of barbs therein comprising:
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a bed, a channel arranged in the bed; and a plurality of orifices arranged along the channel, each orifice comprising a first end exposed in the channel and a second end connected to a suction means, wherein a suction applied to the second end creates a vacuum for securing a suture placed so as to cover at least one of the plurality of orifices.
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14. A collet for holding a suture in place relative to the longitudinal axis of the suture during the cutting of barbs therein, comprising:
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a chuck support; and a rotatable chuck having a variably adjustable aperture housed in said support, said chuck comprising a plurality of jaws, whereby rotation of said chuck causes movement of said jaws and adjusts the aperture of said chuck to hold the suture threaded therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for cutting barbs into sutures comprising:
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at least one collet for holding a suture, wherein said at least one collet rotates in a first direction to impart twist on the suture; and a cutter for butting barbs on the twisted suture. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for cutting barbs into sutures comprising:
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at least one collet; a chuck housed in the collet; and at least one biased tensioner, the biased tensioner allowing the collet to move in a first direction as a suture held in the chuck is twisted, the biased tensioner moving the collet in a second direction as the suture is untwisted;
wherein the movement of the collet insures that the suture receives no more than a specified tension.
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24. An apparatus for cutting barbs into sutures comprising:
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a suture material supply, for feeding suture material to at least one collet, said at least one collet holding suture material along a longitudinal axis; and a tensioner, the tensioner further comprising at least one fixed pulley and at least one movable biased pulley, wherein the movable biased pulley imparts a force on the suture material tensioning a section of suture material held by the at least one collet.
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25. An apparatus for cutting barbs into sutures, the apparatus comprising:
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a filament supply; a sharply honed first edge for cutting a barb into a suture to a specified depth and in a specified direction; and a blunt and rough second edge to impart a roughened texture to a surface of the barb. - View Dependent Claims (27, 30)
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26. A method of forming a barbed suture comprising the steps of:
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threading a filament from a filament supply through a filament tensioner and through a first and second collet; closing the first and second collets; rotating at least one of the collets in a first direction to twist the filament; cutting barbs in at least a first direction into the twisted filament; untwisting the filament and opening the collets; advancing the filament using a filament grasping tool; closing the collets; and severing the filament having barbs cut therein to form a suture.
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28. An apparatus for cutting barbs into a filament for forming a barbed suture, the apparatus comprising:
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a filament supply means; at least one collet for holding the filament; a cutting bed for resting the filament thereon; a cutting assembly for cutting barbs in the filament; and a filament advancement means for advancing the filament. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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31. A cutting blade for use in an apparatus for cutting barbs into sutures, the cutting blade comprising:
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a sharp first edge for cutting a barb into a suture; and a blunt edge to impart a roughened texture to a surface of the barb;
the apparatus further comprising a filament supply. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A barb cut into a suture, the barb including a rough interior surface and made by the process comprising the steps of:
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providing a cutting blade including a sharp first edge and a blunt second edge; drawing the first edge across and into the suture to cut a barb; and drawing the second edge along the previously cut barb, roughening an interior surface of the barb.
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40. A barbed suture including barbs with a rough interior surface and made by the process comprising the steps of:
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providing a cutting blade including a sharp first edge and a blunt second edge; drawing the first edge across and into the suture to cut a barb; and drawing the second edge along the previously cut barb, roughening an interior surface of the barb.
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41. A method of cutting a barb into a suture, comprising:
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providing a cutting blade including a sharp first edge and a blunt second edge; drawing the first edge across and into the suture to cut a barb; and drawing the second edge along the previously cut barb, roughening a surface of the barb.
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Specification