Self-retaining sutures including tissue retainers having improved strength

• US 8,777,987 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson), Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Robert A., Goraltchouk, Alexei, Drubetsky, Lev
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Melanie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scherbel, Todd J
• Application Number:
  US12/680,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20110166597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 606228-231, 29 71- 73
• US Class Current: 606/228
• 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: A61L 17/005 containing a biologically active substance, e.g. a medicament or a biocide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/43 Hormones, e.g. dexamethasone
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/0006 Cutting members therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/25 with a non-circular cutting member
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2001/002 Materials or surface treatments therefor, e.g. composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2001/0053 having a special cutting edge section or blade section
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2001/006 the cutting blade having a special shape, e.g. a special outline, serrations
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/08 Making a superficial cut in the surface of the work without removal of material, e.g. scoring, incising
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/08 with heated members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0333 Scoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0341 Processes

Abstract

An embodiment of a suture for use in a surgical procedure applied to tissue comprises an elongated body having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of retainers arranged along a portion of the elongated body. The retainers substantially yield to motion of the elongated body within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the first end and resist motion of the elongated within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the second end. The retainers include an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface extending from a periphery of the elongated body and the lower surface having at least two facets.

Claims

1. A suture for use in a procedure applied to tissue comprising:

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

a plurality of retainers arranged along a portion of the elongated body, each retainer being formed by a cut into the elongated body and each retainer having a tissue penetrating end;

wherein the retainers substantially yield to motion of the elongated body within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn in a first direction and resist motion of the elongated body within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

wherein the retainers include an exterior surface and an interior surface, the exterior surface extending from a periphery of the elongated body and the interior surface being formed by said cut, and the interior surface having at least two facets;

wherein at least two of the at least two facets converge to form a line, the line running in the same direction as the first direction; and

wherein the cut terminates at an apex located within the outer dimension of the elongated body as defined by locations in which no cut is present.

2. The suture of claim 1, wherein one or both of the elongated body and the plurality of retainers includes an associated material to be delivered to the tissue.

3. The suture of claim 2, wherein the associated material is one or more of a hormone, a drug, and medicine.

4. The suture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of retainers is a first set and the portion of the elongated body is a first portion;

and further comprising;

a second set including a plurality of retainers each formed by a cut into the elongated body, the retainers being arranged along a second portion of the elongated body;

wherein the retainers of the second set substantially yield to motion of the elongated body within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the second end and resist motion of the elongated within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the first end; and

wherein the retainers of the second set include an exterior surface and interior surface, and a tissue penetrating end, the exterior surface extending from a periphery of the elongated body and the interior surface being formed by said cut, and the interior surface having at least two facets, and the cut terminates at an apex located within the outer dimension of the elongated body as defined by locations in which no cut is present.

5. The suture of claim 4 wherein the interior surface of the first set has exactly two facets.

6. The suture of claim 4 wherein the interior surface of the first set has exactly three facets.

7. The suture of claim 1, wherein the interior surface is one of V-shaped, rectangular-shaped, and trapezoidal-shaped.

8. The suture of claim 1 wherein the interior surface has exactly two facets.

9. The suture of claim 1 wherein the interior surface has exactly three facets.

10. A suture for use in a procedure applied to tissue comprising:

an elongated body having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end; and

a plurality of retainers arranged along a portion of the elongated body, each retainer being formed by a cut into the elongated body and each retainer having a tissue penetrating end;

wherein the retainers substantially yield to motion of the elongated body within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn in a first direction and resist motion of the elongated body within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

wherein the retainers include an exterior surface and an interior surface, the exterior surface extending from a periphery of the elongated body and the interior surface being formed by said cut, and the interior surface having at least two facets;

wherein the at least two facets converge along a line, the line being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body; and

wherein the cut terminates at an apex located within the outer dimension of the elongated body as defined by locations in which no cut is present.

11. The suture of claim 10, wherein the interior surface is one of V-shaped, rectangular-shaped, and trapezoidal-shaped.

12. The suture of claim 10 wherein the interior surface has exactly two facets.

13. The suture of claim 10 wherein the interior surface has exactly three facets.