METHODS FOR COATING FILAMENTS
A method for applying a coating composition to filaments whereby filaments are wrapped about an outer perimeter of a drum. The filament-wrapped drum is placed within a dip tank, the dip tank including a coating composition, and a least a portion of the filaments are thereby coated.
1 . A method of coating a filament, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a filament wrapped about an outer perimeter of a drum; and, dipping at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the drum into a dip tank containing a first coating composition thereby coating a portion of the filament.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the filament has a length defined by the outer perimeter of the drum.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the filament has a length-to-outer perimeter ratio ranging from about 0.5:1 to about 5000:1.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the filament has a length-to-outer perimeter ratio ranging from about 1:1 to about 3000:1.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coated portion of the filament represents about 25% to about 75% of the length of the filament.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coated portion of the filament represents about 50% of the length of the filament.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the filament is a monofilament suture.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the filament is a multifilament suture.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first coating composition provides a color pattern along a longitudinal portion of the filament.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first coating composition is selected from the group consisting of dyes, pigments, colorants, adhesives, bioactive agents, lubricants and combinations thereof.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the drum is has a geometrical configuration selected from the group consisting of triangular, cylindrical, pyramidal, square, rectangular, octagonal, hexagonal, pentagonal and polygonal.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the drum is cylindrical.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dip tank includes a level of the coating composition at least equal to a midpoint of the drum.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying a second coating composition to the filament.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second coating composition is selected from the group consisting of dyes, pigments, colorants, adhesives, bioactive agents, lubricants and combinations thereof.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second coating composition is applied to an uncoated portion of the filament.
17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of releasing the filament from the drum.
18 . A method of forming a bi-colored filament, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a filament wrapped about an outer perimeter of a drum; and, dipping at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the drum into a dip tank containing a liquid colorant thereby creating a color pattern on a portion of the filament.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the color pattern is applied to a longitudinal portion of the filament.
20 . A system for coating filaments comprising:
a filament wrapped about an outer portion of a drum; and
a dip tank containing a coating composition, wherein the dip tank is configured to receive the drum therein to at least a mid-point of the drum, thereby coating about 50% of the filament with the coating composition.