Multiple suture thread configuration with an intermediate connector

• US 8,734,486 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• 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:
  US12/849,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 606/228, 606/232, 606/200, 606/329, 606/331, 606/139, 606/144, 606/148
• 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 barbed sutures each with a plurality of barbs and a body connector that connects said plurality of barbed sutures. The sutures can move relative to the body connector. The body connector can retain tissue.

Claims

1. A suture system comprising:

a suture system adapted for positioning in tissue and to remain in said tissue after said positioning, the suture system comprising;

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

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

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

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

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body has said opening and another opening and said sutures can slide through both said opening and said another opening.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body is cylindrical.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body includes a bio-absorbable material.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

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

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

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

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body is cone shaped.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body is wider than any of said sutures.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

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

10. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said body has an outer surface that can hold tissue.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said sutures are provided through said opening, and said body is located around said sutures.

12. A system comprising the system of claim 1 wherein:

a needle is attached to each of said first end and said second end of each suture.