Sutures with barbs that overlap and cover projections

• US 8,734,485 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• 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 L., Megaro, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOWE, KATHERINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/849,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 606/215, 606/216, 606228-231
• US Class Current: 606/228
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06028 by means of a cylindrical longitudinal blind bore machined at the suture-receiving end of the needle, e.g. opposite to needle tip
• 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: Y10T 83/852 Responsive to force

Abstract

A barbed suture with a first end and a second end and a body with a plurality of barbs extending from the body. Each barb causes the suture to resist movement in an opposite direction from which the barb faces. Projections extend from said suture. The projections can also engage tissue. The barbs cover the projections when the first end of the suture is moved in tissue and exposes the projections in order to engage tissue when the suture is moved in the direction of the second end through tissue.

Claims

1. A suture comprising:

an elongated body having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of barbs projecting from said body, each barb facing a direction and being adapted to resist movement in tissue in a direction opposite to the direction that the barb faces;

each of said barbs including an underside that is adjacent to the elongated body and a topside that is opposite to the underside;

each of said underside of barbs including a plurality of projections that are adapted to engage tissue;

each of said topside of barbs including a smooth surface devoid of projections; and

wherein said barbs shield the projections from engagement in tissue when said barbs are disposed against said body of said suture.

2. The suture of claim 1 wherein:

said barbs shield the projections from engagement in tissue when the suture moves in tissue in the direction that the barbs are facing and allow the projections to engage tissue in the opposite direction.

3. The suture of claim 1 wherein:

the barbs include an arcuate base.

4. The suture of claim 1 wherein:

said barbs are arcuate in shape.

5. The suture of claim 1 wherein:

said projections are one of serrated projections and corrugated projections.

6. The suture of claim 1 wherein:

said barbs extend in a direction of the second end; and

said projections extend in a direction other than the direction of the barbs.

7. The suture of claim 1 wherein:

the barbs are sized so that the barbs shield the projections when the suture moves through tissue in the direction that the barbs face.

8. The suture of claim 1 wherein:

said barbs are larger than said projections.

9. The suture of claim 1 wherein:

said barbs and said projections are formed by cutting into said suture body.

10. The suture of claim 1 wherein:

said barbs overlap said projections.

11. A suture comprising:

an elongated body having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of barbs projecting from said body, each barb facing in a direction of motion of the first end of the suture through tissue and being adapted to resist movement in tissue in a direction of motion of the second end of the suture through tissue, said barbs having tissue engaging ends that are directed toward the second end;

each barb includes an underside that is adjacent to the elongated body and a topside that is opposite to the underside

said underside of each barb comprises

a plurality of projections, which projections point in a direction other than the direction that said barb ends are directed;

said projections are adapted to engage tissue; and

said topside of each barb comprises a smooth surface devoid of projections;

wherein sid barbs shield the projections from engagement in tissue when said barbs are disposed against said body of said suture.

12. The suture of claim 11 wherein:

said barbs shield the projections from engagement in tissue when the suture moves in tissue in the direction that the barbs are facing and allow the projections to engage tissue in the opposite directions.

13. The suture of claim 11 wherein:

the barbs include an arcuate base.

14. The suture of claim 11 wherein:

said barbs are arcuate in shape.

15. The suture of claim 11 wherein:

said projections are one of serrated projections and corrugated projections.

16. The suture of claim 11 wherein:

the barbs are sized so that the barbs shield the projections when the suture moves through tissue in the directions that the barbs face.

17. The suture of claim 11 wherein:

said barbs are larger than said projections.

18. A suture comprising:

an elongated body having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of barbs projecting from said body, each barb facing a direction of motion of the first end of the suture through tissue and being adapted to resist movement in tissue in a direction of motion of the second end of the suture through tissue, said barbs having tissue engaging ends that are directed toward the second end;

each barb includes an underside that is adjacent to the elongated body and a topside that is opposite to the underside

said underside of each barb comprises

a plurality of projections, which projections point in a direction other than the direction that said barb ends are directed;

said projections are adapted to engage tissue;

said topside of each barb comprises a smooth surface devoid of projections;

wherein said barbs are larger than said projections; and

wherein said barbs shield the projections from engagement in tissue when said barbs are disposed against said body of said suture.