SUTURE FOR WOUND CLOSURE, TISSUE APPROXIMATION, TISSUE SUPPORT, SUSPENSION AND/OR FIXATION
A suture assembly includes an elongated flexible body which may be either a single filament for a multiple strand braided or woven body, supporting a plurality of shaped tissue-engaging elements in a generally spaced arrangement thereon. A curved body having a sharp point is joined to one end of the flexible body while a straight pointed body is joined to the remaining end of the flexible body. In alternate embodiments, the tissue-engaging elements define a variety of cross-section shapes. In a further alternate embodiment, the tissue-engaging elements are divided into first and second oppositely facing sets to provide a bidirectional suture. In a still further alternate embodiment, the elongated flexible body supports an elongated tissue-bonding sleeve.
1 . A suture comprising: an elongated flexible body having first and second ends; a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements received upon said elongated flexible body; and a plurality of knots tied in said elongated flexible body each larger than said bore, said knots maintaining said tissue-engaging elements in a serial arrangement on said elongated flexible body.
2 . The suture set forth in claim 1 wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define a narrow end and a broad end.
3 . The suture set forth in claim 2 wherein said tissue-engaging elements are each generally frusto-conical in shape.
4 . The suture set forth in claim 3 wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define an open end.
5 . The suture set forth in claim 4 further including: a curved end having a sharp pointed end and a connector end joined to said first end of said elongated flexible body; and an elongated body having a pointed end and a connector end joined to said second end of said elongated flexible body.
6 . A suture assembly comprising: an elongated needle body having a first pointed end and a first connector end; a curved needle body having a second pointed end and a second connector end; an elongated filament having a first end joined to said first connector end, a second end joined to said second connector end, and a plurality of knots formed in said filament; and a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements being received upon said filament by passing said filament through said bores with each tissue-engaging element being proximate one of said knots.
7 . The suture assembly set forth in claim 6 wherein said tissue-engaging elements are generally frusto-conical.
8 . The suture assembly set forth in claim 7 wherein said tissue-engaging elements define generally circular cross-sections.
9 . The suture assembly set forth in claim 7 wherein said tissue-engaging elements define generally elliptical cross-sections.
10 . A suture comprising: an elongated flexible body formed of a braided or woven multiple stranded member having first and second ends; a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements received upon said elongated flexible body; and a plurality of knots tied in said elongated flexible body each larger than said bore said knots maintaining said tissue-engaging elements in a serial arrangement on said elongated flexible body.
11 . The suture set forth in claim 10 wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define a narrow end and a broad end.
12 . The suture set forth in claim 11 wherein said tissue-engaging elements are each generally frusto-conical in shape.
13 . The suture set forth in claim 12 wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define an open end.
14 . The suture set forth in claim 13 further including: a curved end having a sharp pointed end and a connector end joined to said first end of said elongated flexible body; and an elongated body having a pointed end and a connector end joined to said second end of said elongated flexible body.
15 . A suture assembly comprising: an elongated needle body having a first pointed end and a first connector end; a curved needle body having a second pointed end and a second connector end; an elongated flexible body formed of a multiple strand braided or woven member having a first end joined to said first connector end, a second end joined to said second connector end, and a plurality of knots formed in said filament; and a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements being received upon said elongated flexible body by passing said elongated flexible body through said bores with each tissue-engaging element being proximate one of said knots.
16 . The suture assembly set forth in claim 15 wherein said tissue-engaging elements are generally frusto-conical.
17 . The suture assembly set forth in claim 16 wherein said tissue-engaging elements define generally circular cross-sections.
18 . The suture assembly set forth in claim 16 wherein said tissue-engaging elements define generally elliptical cross-sections.
19 . A suture comprising: an elongated flexible body formed of a braided or woven multiple stranded member having first and second ends; a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements received upon said elongated flexible body to form two spaced-apart groups having a space therebetween; a plurality of knots tied in said elongated flexible body each larger than said bore, said knots maintaining said tissue-engaging elements in grouped serial arrangements on said elongated flexible body; and an elongated flexible sleeve formed of a porous material and supported upon said elongated flexible body between said groups of tissue-engaging elements.
20 . The suture set forth in claim 19 wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define a narrow end and a broad end and wherein said elongated flexible sleeve is positioned by a knot on each side of said elongated flexible sleeve.
21 . The suture set forth in claim 20 wherein said tissue-engaging elements are each generally frusto-conical in shape.
22 . The suture set forth in claim 21 wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define an open end.
23 . A suture comprising: an elongated flexible body formed of a braided or woven multiple stranded member having first and second ends; a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements received upon said elongated flexible body forming at least two spaced-apart groups; a plurality of positioning elements in said elongated flexible body each larger than said bore, said positioning elements maintaining said tissue-engaging elements in a serial arrangement on said elongated flexible body; and an elongated flexible porous sleeve supported upon said elongated flexible body between said groups positioned by a pair of said positioning elements.
24 . The suture set forth in claim 23 wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define a narrow end and a broad end.
25 . The suture set forth in claim 24 wherein said tissue-engaging elements are each generally frusto-conical in shape.
26 . The suture set forth in claim 25 wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define an open end.