Apparatus and method for forming self-retaining sutures

• US 8,875,607 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kozlowski, Martin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alie, Ghassem
• Application Number:
  US12/865,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 83/13, 83/37, 833/43, 839/23, 839/24, 838/80, 838/86, 834/49, 832/06, 832/82, 832/85, 832/98, 833/01, 833/02, 833/42, 833/31, 833/32, 833/37, 426/518, 241/25, 241/101, 295/644, 385/135, 385/134, 385/136, 81/95.1, 81/94, 81 941- 944
• US Class Current: 83/13
• 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: Y10T 83/0341 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0393 With means to rotate blade
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cutting retainers on a continuous strand is provided. The apparatus may include a rotary head member configured to be rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis. The rotary head member may include a center hole substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis and configured to receive the strand. A retainer forming member may be supported on the rotary head member and may include a cutting edge directed substantially inward toward the longitudinal axis. When the rotary head member rotates about the longitudinal axis and the strand is continuously pulled through the center hole along the longitudinal axis, the cutting edge may intermittently or continuously cuts retainers about an outer surface of the strand.

Claims

1. A method for cutting retainers on a continuous strand with an apparatus including a rotary head member configured to be rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis, the rotary head member including a center hole substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis and configured to receive the strand, and a retainer forming member supported on the rotary head member and comprising a cutting edge directed substantially inward toward the longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

rotating the rotary head member about the longitudinal axis;

continuously pulling the strand through the center hole along the longitudinal axis as the rotary head member rotates about the longitudinal axis; and

as the rotary head member rotates about the longitudinal axis, moving the retainer forming member toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the strand, thereby intermittently cutting an outer surface of the strand with the cutting edge of the retainer forming member to form a plurality of retainers on the strand.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising moving the retainer forming member relative to the rotary head member.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising moving the cutting edge of the retainer forming member substantially toward and away from the longitudinal axis between predetermined end positions.

4. An apparatus for cutting retainers on a continuous strand, comprising a rotary head member configured to be rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis, the rotary head member including a center hole substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis and configured to receive the strand;

and

a retainer forming member supported on the rotary head member and comprising a cutting edge directed substantially inward toward the longitudinal axis, wherein when the rotary head member continuously rotates about the longitudinal axis as the strand is continuously pulled through the center hole along the longitudinal axis, and as the rotary head member continuously rotates about the longitudinal axis, the cutting edge moves toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the strand and intermittently cuts retainers about an outer surface of the strand.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an actuator member coupled to the retainer forming member and configured to move the cutting edge of the retainer forming member substantially toward and away from the longitudinal axis between the predetermined end positions when actuated.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the retainer forming member comprises a blade.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cutting edge of the retainer forming member is disposed at an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

8. A self-retaining suture comprising one or more retainers formed on an outer periphery of a strand of suture material, the suture formed by a method comprising:

providing a rotary head member configured to be rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis, the rotary head member including a center hole substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis and configured to receive the strand;

providing a retainer forming member supported on the rotary head member and comprising a cutting edge directed substantially inward toward the longitudinal axis;

rotating the rotary head member about the longitudinal axis;

continuously pulling the strand through the center hole along the longitudinal axis as the rotary head member rotates about the longitudinal axis; and

as the rotary head member rotates about the longitudinal axis, moving the retainer forming member toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the strand, thereby intermittently cutting an outer surface of the strand with the cutting edge of the retainer forming member to form a plurality of retainers on the strand.