Multiple suture thread configuration with an intermediate connector

• US 8,679,158 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson), Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Leung, Jeffrey C., Ruff, Gregory, Kaplan, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, JULIAN W
• Application Number:
  US12/849,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20110009902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 606/228, 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/232, 606/300, 606/329, 606/331
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1146 of tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06057 Double-armed sutures, i.e. sutures having a needle attached to each end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 Polymer

Abstract

A suture system has a plurality of double ended barbed sutures each with a first plurality of barbs located adjacent to a first end and a second plurality of barbs located adjacent to a second end, and a body connector that connects said plurality of double ended barbed sutures. The body connector is located between the first plurality of barbs and the second plurality of barbs on each of the sutures. The sutures can move relative to the body connector. The body connector can retain tissue.

Claims

1. A suture system adapted to be positioned in tissue comprising:

a plurality of sutures, each suture having a first end and a second end;

a body located between the first ends and the second ends of said plurality of sutures;

a first plurality of barbs located on each of said suture of the plurality of sutures between the body and the first end;

each of said first plurality of barbs oriented so as to permit movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the first end through tissue and prevent movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the second end through tissue;

a second plurality of barbs located on each of said suture of the plurality of sutures between the body and the second end;

each of said second plurality of barbs oriented so as to permit movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the second end through tissue and prevent movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the first end through tissue; and

said body connecting together said sutures of said plurality of sutures.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body is slidably located on said sutures.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body has an opening and said sutures can slide through said opening.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body has a first opening and a second opening and said sutures can slid through both said first opening and said second opening.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body is cylindrical.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body is a three-dimensional body.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body includes a bio-absorbable material.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body includes at least one of ridges, barbs and serrations.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the body has a circular cross-section.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body includes an opening and said sutures can move relative to said opening.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body is cone shaped.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body is wider than any of said sutures.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body includes an outer surface that can engage and hold tissue.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body has an outer surface that can hold tissue.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body is wider than any of said sutures and said body has an outer surface that can hold tissue.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body includes a first material and said sutures includes a second material; and

said first material is different than said second material.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said first end of each suture is pointed and said second end of each suture is pointed; and

the first pointed ends point away from the body; and

the second pointed ends point away from the body.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said first ends extend away from said body and said second ends extend away from said body.

19. A suture system adapted to be positioned in tissue comprising:

a plurality of sutures, each suture having a first end and a second end;

a body located between the first ends and the second ends of said plurality of sutures;

a first plurality of barbs located on each said suture of the plurality of sutures between the body and the first end;

each of said first plurality of barbs oriented so as to permit movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the first end through tissue and prevent movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the second end through tissue;

a second plurality of barbs located on each said suture of the plurality of sutures between the body and the second end;

each of said second plurality of barbs oriented so as to permit movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the second end through tissue and prevent movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the first end through tissue; and

said body connecting together said sutures of said plurality of sutures; and

said body is slidably located on said sutures.

20. A suture system adapted to be positioned in tissue comprising:

a plurality of sutures, each suture having a first end and a second end;

a body located between the first ends and the second ends of said plurality of sutures;

a first plurality of barbs located on each said suture of the plurality of sutures between the body and the first end;

each of said first plurality of barbs oriented so as to permit movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the first end through tissue and prevent movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the second end through tissue;

a second plurality of barbs located on each said suture of the plurality of sutures between the body and the second end;

each of said second plurality of barbs oriented so as to permit movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the second end through tissue and prevent movement of the suture in a direction of movement of the first end through tissue; and

said body connecting together said sutures of said plurality of sutures; and

said body is slidably located on said sutures; and

said body has an opening and said sutures can move relative to said opening.