Method and apparatus for elevating retainers on self-retaining sutures
First Claim
1. A method of forming a self-retaining suture comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of retainers on an elongated suture body by inserting said suture into a retainer-forming machine, wherein said retainer-forming machine forms retainers in said suture; and
performing a step of elevating the retainers away from the suture body, wherein the step of elevating the retainers comprises;
after the retainers have been created by said retainer-forming machine, inserting the suture having retainers into an apparatus having at least one roller and at least one bending bar;
drawing the suture through the apparatus over the at least one roller;
and contacting the retainers with said at least one bending bar, wherein said bending bar physically applies a force to the retainers and bends the retainers back.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device to elevate retainers on a suture thread to a desired angle such that the retainers can retain the desired elevation. The retainers can be elevated using an apparatus having at least one roller and at least one bending bar, wherein the bending bar contacts the retainers adjacent to the at least one roller to apply a force to the retainers. The retainers can also be elevated using a tube-shaped apparatus. A suture can be made up of an inner core and a coating that upon a stimuli increases the protrusion of the retainers away from the suture core. A coating can be inserted into the cut associated with the retainer and repulsive or expansive forces result in a pushing out of the cut and distending of the retainers away from the suture core.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of forming a self-retaining suture comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of retainers on an elongated suture body by inserting said suture into a retainer-forming machine, wherein said retainer-forming machine forms retainers in said suture; and performing a step of elevating the retainers away from the suture body, wherein the step of elevating the retainers comprises; after the retainers have been created by said retainer-forming machine, inserting the suture having retainers into an apparatus having at least one roller and at least one bending bar; drawing the suture through the apparatus over the at least one roller; and contacting the retainers with said at least one bending bar, wherein said bending bar physically applies a force to the retainers and bends the retainers back. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of forming a self-retaining suture comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of retainers on an elongated suture body; and performing a step of elevating the retainers away from the suture body, wherein the step of elevating the retainers comprises; inserting the suture having retainers into at least one hollow tube, said hollow tube having an inner surface having a retainer-engaging feature selected from the group consisting of dimples, grooves, bars or projections; drawing the suture through the at least one hollow tube; and bending the retainers back within the tube by dragging the retainers along the inner surface of the at least one hollow tube such that the retainers contact said retainer-engaging feature and said retainers are bent back. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of forming a self-retaining suture comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of retainers on an elongated suture body, said plurality of retainers disposed in a spiral configuration about said elongated suture body; and performing a step of elevating the plurality of retainers away from the suture body, wherein the step of elevating the retainers comprises lifting the retainers from original elevation angles to increased elevation angles using electrostatic force. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of forming a self-retaining suture comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of retainers on an elongated suture body; and performing a step of elevating the retainers away from the suture body, wherein the step of elevating the retainers comprises; contacting the suture body with a solution, wherein the solution expands the suture body extending the retainer out from the suture body; and applying a contractable film to the expanded suture body and contracting the film to fix the retainer in the extended position.
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Specification