Apparatus and method for forming self-retaining sutures

• US 8,615,856 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson), Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gelbart, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, John C
• Application Number:
  US12/363,582
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 29/71, 29/72, 29/73, 606/146, 606/228, 606/215, 606/224, 606/216, 836/51
• US Class Current: 29/7.1
• 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 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 25/00 Making barbed wire
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 45/00 Wire-working in the manufacture of other particular articles of pins, needles, nails, hairpins B21G; of chains B21L ; for semiconductor devices H01L24/42
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 45/008 of medical instruments, e.g. stents, corneal rings medical science A61
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 5/068 Shaving, skiving or scarifying for forming lifted portions, e.g. slices or barbs, on the surface of the material
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/448 Yarns or threads for use in medical applications D02G3/449 takes precedence; surgical suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: D02J 3/00 Modifying the surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/20 Fence barb making

Abstract

An apparatus and method for forming retainers on a continuous strand such as, for example, of suture material and a suture produced by the same. The apparatus may include a retainer forming member configured to rotate about a first axis. The retainer forming member may include a cutter, the cutting edge of which may directed substantially inward toward, or outward away from, the first axis to define a retainer forming zone when the retainer forming member rotates about the first axis. The apparatus may further include a support member arranged adjacent to the retainer forming member and configured to receive and support the continuous strand in the retainer forming zone. When the retainer forming member rotates about the first axis, the passing strand may be intermittently or continuously cut by the cutting edge of the cutter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming retainers on a continuous strand, comprising:

a retainer forming member configured to rotate about a first axis and comprising a cutter, the cutter comprising a cutting edge, wherein the cutting edge of the cutter is directed substantially inward toward the first axis to define a retainer forming zone when the retainer forming member rotates about the first axis; and

a support member arranged adjacent to the retainer forming member and configured to receive and support the continuous strand in the retainer forming zone, wherein when the retainer forming member rotates about the first axis the strand is intermittently or continuously cut by the cutting edge of the cutter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support member has a support member axis, wherein said support member axis is substantially perpendicular to said first axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the retainer forming member rotates about the first axis the strand is cut to form a plurality of retainers.

4. A method for forming retainers on a continuous strand with an apparatus, the apparatus comprising a retainer forming member configured to rotate about a first axis and comprising a cutter, wherein a cutting edge of the cutter is directed substantially inward toward the first axis to define a retainer forming zone when the retainer forming member rotates about the first axis, and a support member arranged adjacent to the retainer forming member and configured to receive and support the continuous strand in the retainer forming zone, the method comprising:

rotating the retainer forming member of the apparatus about the first axis;

moving the continuous strand on the support member within the retainer forming zone; and

intermittently or continuously cutting the strand with the cutting edge of the cutter as the retainer forming member rotates to form retainers on the strand.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said support member has a support member axis, wherein said support member axis is substantially perpendicular to said first axis.