Knotted suture end effector

• US 8,333,788 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Maiorino, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, JULIAN W
• Application Number:
  US12/571,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20100094337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 606228-233, 606/148, 606/139, 289/17, 289/1.2, 289/3, 289/4
• US Class Current: 606/228
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• 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 2017/0403 Dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 with pre-tied sutures

Abstract

A suture including a knotted end effector is provided. The suture includes a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and an end effector integrally formed from the body portion. The end effector includes first and second extensions extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis in opposite directions. Each of the first and second extensions includes at least one throw.

Claims

1. A suture comprising:

a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and including a needle on a first end thereof; and

an end effector integrally formed from a second end of the body portion, the end effector including first and second extensions extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis in opposite directions, wherein each of the first and second extensions includes a plurality of throws and the first extension is configured substantially identically to the second extension and, wherein each of the throws defines a central axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body portion.

2. The suture of claim 1, wherein the first and second extensions include a plurality of throws.

3. The suture of claim 1, wherein the first extension includes three (3) throws.

4. The suture of claim 1, wherein the second extension includes three (3) throws.

5. The suture of claim 1, wherein the end effector defines a substantially T-shape.

6. The suture of claim 1, wherein the end effector is formed on a distal end of the body portion.

7. A suture comprising:

a body portion having first and second ends and defining a longitudinal axis therebetween; and

an end effector integrally formed from the body portion and fixed relative to the longitudinal axis, the end effector including first and second extensions extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in opposite directions, wherein the first end extends in a first direction relative to the end effector and the second end extends in a second opposite direction relative to the end effector, wherein the first extension is configured substantially identically to the second extension, and wherein the first and second extensions each include a plurality of throws.

8. The suture of claim 7, wherein the end effector is formed from a single continuous end of the body portion.

9. The suture of claim 7, wherein each of the throws defines a central axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body portion.