IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,916,077
Granted Patent B1
US 8,916,077 · App. 12/340,444 · Granted Dec 23, 2014

Self-retaining sutures with retainers formed from molten material

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,916,077
App. No.
12/340,444
Granted
Dec 23, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

Provided herein are sutures to be used in a procedure applied to tissue, and methods for forming such sutures. A suture can include an elongated suture body having a periphery, and a plurality of retainers formed from molten material applied to portions of the periphery. The retainers can extend from and be arranged along at least a segment of the elongated suture body. The retainers can be formed by applying molten material to portions of the periphery of the elongated suture body and cooling the material to form the retainers.

Claims (27)

1. A method of forming a suture to be used in a surgical procedure applied to tissue, comprising:

(a) providing an elongated suture body having a periphery; and

(b) forming retainers along the elongated suture body by applying molten material to portions of the periphery of the elongated suture body and cooling the material to form the retainers,

wherein step (b) includes using one or more dispensers to dispense the molten material onto the portions of periphery of the elongated suture body and moving at least one of the elongated suture body and one of said one or more dispensers, relative to one another, during the dispensing of the molten material.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said one or more dispensers includes a die having a shape that affects a shape of the retainers formed by dispensing molten material using said one or more dispensers.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein step (b) includes using a generally round or oval die to form retainers having a generally conical shape.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein step (b) includes using a generally triangular-shaped or v-shaped die to form retainers having a generally pyramidal shape.

5. A method of forming a suture to be used in a surgical procedure applied to tissue, comprising:

(a) providing an elongated suture body having a periphery; and

(b) forming retainers along the elongated suture body by applying molten material to portions of the periphery of the elongated suture body and cooling the material to form the retainers,

wherein step (b) includes using one or more dispensers to dispense the molten material onto the portions of periphery of the elongated suture body and further includes:

(b.1) moving the elongated suture body in a first direction; and

(b.2) while the elongated suture body is being moved in the first direction, using a said one or more dispensers to dispense the molten material.

6. A method of forming a suture to be used in a surgical procedure applied to tissue, comprising:

(a) providing an elongated suture body having a periphery; and

(b) forming retainers along the elongated suture body by applying molten material to portions of the periphery of the elongated suture body and cooling the material to form the retainers,

wherein step (b) includes using one or more dispensers to dispense the molten material onto the portions of periphery of the elongated suture body and further includes controlling the speed and/or acceleration at which the one or more dispenser and/or the elongated suture body are moved during the dispensing of the molten material, to thereby affect a shape and/or size of the retainers formed using the one or more dispenser.

7. A method of forming a suture to be used in a surgical procedure applied to tissue, comprising:

(a) providing an elongated suture body having a periphery; and

(b) forming retainers along the elongated suture body by applying molten material to portions of the periphery of the elongated suture body and cooling the material to form the retainers,

wherein step (b) includes using one or more dispensers to dispense the molten material onto the portions of periphery of the elongated suture body and further includes controlling a temperature of the molten material to affect a shape and/or size of the retainers formed.

8. A method of forming a suture to be used in a surgical procedure applied to tissue, comprising:

(a) providing an elongated suture body having a periphery; and

(b) forming retainers along the elongated suture body by applying molten material to portions of the periphery of the elongated suture body and cooling the material to form the retainers wherein step (b) includes:

inserting a portion of a member into a reservoir of molten material to thereby cause molten material to adhere to the portion of the member; and

transferring at least some of the molten material, adhered to the member, from the member to the periphery of the elongated suture body.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transferring is performed by moving the member and/or the elongated suture body toward the other, to bring the molten material in contact with the periphery of the elongated suture body, and thereafter moving the member and/or the elongated suture body away from the other.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2013
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC
To: ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; AMERICAN MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS HOLDINGS, INC.; ANGIOTECH AMERICA, INC.; ANGIOTECH BIOCOATINGS CORP.; ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS (US), INC.; B.G. SULZLE, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; QUILL MEDICAL, INC.; SURGICAL SPECIALTIES CORPORATION; ANGIOTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS CORP.
Reel/Frame 030211/0479 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2012
From: ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; QUILL MEDICAL, INC.
To: ETHICON, INC.; ETHICON, LLC
Reel/Frame 029294/0443 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS - PATENTS (US) Recorded May 16, 2012
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC
To: QUILL MEDICAL, INC.; ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 028216/0499 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS - PATENTS (US) Recorded Apr 20, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY
To: QUILL MEDICAL, INC.; ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 028078/0699 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST - PATENTS Recorded Apr 10, 2012
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC
To: QUILL MEDICAL, INC.; ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 028022/0861 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 13, 2011
From: ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; AFMEDICA, INC.; AMERICAN MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS HOLDINGS, INC.; ANGIOTECH AMERICA, INC.; ANGIOTECH BIOCOATINGS CORP.; ANGIOTECH DELAWARE, INC.; ANGIOTECH FLORIDA HOLDINGS, INC.; ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS (US), INC.; B.G. SULZLE, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; NEUCOLL INC.; QUILL MEDICAL, INC.; SURGICAL SPECIALTIES CORPORATION; 0741693 BRITISH COLUMBIA LTD.; ANGIOTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, CORP.
To: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026275/0507 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2009
From: GORALTCHOUK, ALEXEI; DRUBETSKY, LEV; CUMMINGS, GERALD F.; HERMANN, ROBERT A.; NAIMAGON, ALEXANDER
To: ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022651/0331 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 2, 2009
From: ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; AFMEDICA, INC.; AMERICAN MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS HOLDINGS, INC.; ANGIOTECH AMERICA, INC.; ANGIOTECH BIOCOATINGS CORP.; ANGIOTECH CAPITAL, LLC; ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS (US), INC.; B.G. SULZLE, INC.; CRIMSON CARDINAL CAPITAL, LLC; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; NEUCOLL INC.; QUILL MEDICAL, INC.; SURGICAL SPECIALTIES CORPORATION; 0741693 BRITISH COLUMBIA LTD.; 3091796 NOVA SCOTIA COMPANY; ANGIOTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, CORP.; ANGIOTECH INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
To: WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 022329/0310 →