Automated system for cutting tissue retainers on a suture
First Claim
1. A system for creating tissue-retainers on a suture having a longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
- a cutting bed adapted and configured to support a suture at a cutting position;
a cutting device;
a cutting arm which moves the cutting device along a selected cutting path such that the cutting device passes through a suture supported by the cutting bed at the cutting position to create a tissue-retainer having a desired configuration, the arm being operated by at least one transducer; and
a linear indexing mechanism adapted to advance the suture along the longitudinal axis;
whereby operation of the cutting arm and the indexing mechanism is adapted to create a plurality of tissue-retainers having the desired configuration at a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the suture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated system for manufacturing self-retaining suture is disclosed. The system includes a cutting bed to which a suture is mounted. A power-operated cutting arm moves a cutting device through the suture along a preselected path and at a preselected angle to create a tissue retainer having a desired geometry. An indexing mechanism moves the suture relative to the cutting device. The operation of the cutting arm in conjunction with the geometry of the cutting device and movement of the suture thread allows for creating a plurality of tissue retainers having a desired geometry distributed along the length of the suture thread.
686 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for creating tissue-retainers on a suture having a longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
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a cutting bed adapted and configured to support a suture at a cutting position; a cutting device; a cutting arm which moves the cutting device along a selected cutting path such that the cutting device passes through a suture supported by the cutting bed at the cutting position to create a tissue-retainer having a desired configuration, the arm being operated by at least one transducer; and a linear indexing mechanism adapted to advance the suture along the longitudinal axis; whereby operation of the cutting arm and the indexing mechanism is adapted to create a plurality of tissue-retainers having the desired configuration at a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the suture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for creating tissue-grasping elements on a suture having a longitudinal axis comprising:
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a cutting bed adapted and configured to support the suture; a cutting device; a power-operated cutting arm which moves the cutting device along a selected cutting path such that the cutting device cuts into the suture to create a tissue-grasping element having a desired configuration; an indexing mechanism adapted to advance the suture along the longitudinal axis, the indexing mechanism being synchronized with the power-operated cutting arm in order to create a plurality of tissue grasping elements having the desired configuration at a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the suture. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for cutting a suture having a longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
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a cutting bed adapted and configured to support a suture at a cutting position; a blade; a cutting arm which moves the blade along a selected cutting path such that the blade passes through a suture at the cutting position to make an angled cut having a desired configuration, the arm being operated by at least one transducer; a suture-transport mechanism synchronized with the cutting arm and adapted to move the suture between operations of the cutting arm; and whereby operation of the cutting arm and suture-transport mechanism is adapted to make a plurality of angled cuts having the desired configuration at a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the suture. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification