Braided suture
A suture for a suture anchor or surgical needle. The suture is a tubular sheath defining an empty bore and is braided using biocompatible filaments of the same or different materials. The sheath has a flattened annular cross-section.
1 . A suture comprising a tubular braided sheath having a flattened annular cross-section defining an empty bore.
2 . The suture of claim 1 , further comprising pluralities of first and second filaments oppositely spirally inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the sheath.
3 . The suture of claim 2 , wherein the first and second filaments comprise different materials.
4 . The suture of claim 2 , wherein the first and second filaments are made of biocompatible materials.
5 . The suture of claim 2 , wherein the first and second filaments are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, nylon, polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins, and fluorocopolymers.
6 . The suture of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of axial filaments interwoven with the first and second filaments.
7 . The suture of claim 6 , wherein at least one filament is of contrasting color.
8 . The suture of claim 6 , wherein the first, second and axial filaments comprise polyester.
9 . The suture of claim 6 , wherein the axial filaments are of high tenacity and low elongation.
10 . The suture of claim 9 , wherein the axial filaments comprise ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
11 . The suture of claim 10 , wherein the first and second filaments comprise ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
12 . The suture of claim 9 , wherein the first and second filaments comprise polyester.
13 . The suture of claim 2 , further comprising a lubricity coating.
14 . The suture of claim 2 , wherein each filament comprises a lubricity coating.
15 . The suture of claim 1 in combination with a surgical needle.
16 . The suture of claim 1 in combination with a suture anchor.
17 . The combination of claim 16 , wherein the suture anchor has an elongated eyelet providing contact and load distribution along a width of the suture.
18 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein the sheath has a width to thickness ratio greater than 1.
19 . The suture of claim 18 , wherein the width to thickness ratio reduces knot back-out.
20 . The suture of claim 18 , wherein the width to thickness ratio reduces soft tissue damage.
21 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein the sheath has a width to thickness ratio greater than 1.5.
22 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein the sheath has a width to thickness ratio greater than 2.
23 . A method of making a suture comprising:
providing a mandrel;
braiding pluralities of first and second filaments around the mandrel to form a sheath; and
removing the mandrel to form an empty bore.
24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising braiding a plurality of axial filaments with the first and second filaments.
25 . A method of suturing comprising:
providing a flattened tubular braided suture;
loading the suture to a suture device;
deploying the suture device; and
tying a suture knot.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein providing a braided suture includes providing a suture having pluralities of first and second filaments oppositely spirally inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the suture, and a plurality of axial filaments interwoven with the first and second filaments.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the suture device is a suture anchor.
28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the suture device is a surgical needle.
29 . The method of claim 25 , wherein tying a suture knot comprises compressing a width of the suture inside the knot such that the width of the suture is narrower inside the knot that outside the knot.
30 . The method of claim 25 , wherein deploying the suture device comprises passing the suture through tissue using the suture device.