Method for variable-angle cutting of a suture to create tissue retainers of a desired shape and size

1. A method for cutting barbs on a suture thread having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

(a) setting the suture thread on a support;

(b) moving a blade along a selected path relative to the support whereby the blade passes through the suture thread to create a first barb at a first location on the suture thread;

(c) changing the angle of the blade during step (b);

(d) indexing the suture thread wherein indexing the suture thread includes at least one of rotating the suture thread about the longitudinal axis and translating the suture thread along the longitudinal axis; and

(e) moving the blade along said selected path relative to the support whereby the blade passes through the suture thread to create a second barb at a second location on the suture thread.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises a joint having an axis, and wherein step (c) comprises changing the angle of the blade during step (b) by causing the blade to move around the axis.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises a joint having an axis, and wherein step (c) comprises changing the angle of the blade during step (b) in order to control a depth of the first barb.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises a joint having an axis, and wherein step (c) comprises changing the angle of the blade during step (b) in order to lift the first barb.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(f) indexing the suture thread wherein indexing the suture thread includes at least one of rotating the suture thread about the longitudinal axis and translating the suture thread along the longitudinal axis; and

(g) moving the blade along said selected path relative to the support whereby the blade passes through the suture thread to create a third barb at a third location on the suture thread.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein step (d) comprises rotating the suture thread 120 degrees about the longitudinal axis and step (g) comprises rotating the suture thread 120 degrees about the longitudinal axis.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises rotating the suture thread 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising twisting the suture thread prior to cutting barbs on the suture thread.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected path includes a longitudinal y-axis component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread.

10. The method of claim 1 , including oscillating the blade during step (b).

11. A method for making cuts having a preselected configuration in a suture thread having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

(a) setting the suture thread on a support;

(b) contacting the suture thread with a cutting device;

(c1) moving the cutting device along a preselected path through the suture thread to make a cut in the suture thread where the preselected path includes at least two of,

a transverse x-axis component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread,

a longitudinal y-axis component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread,

a depth z-axis component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread and the transverse to the x-axis, and

an oscillating component;

(c2) during (c1) changing the angle of the cutting device;

(d) indexing the suture thread wherein indexing the suture thread includes at least one of rotating the suture thread about the longitudinal axis and translating the suture thread along the longitudinal axis; and

(e) moving the cutting device along said preselected path to create another cut in the suture thread.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein step (d) comprises indexing the suture thread by rotating the suture thread about the longitudinal axis and translating the suture thread along the longitudinal axis.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cutting device comprises a blade coupled to an articulated joint and wherein step (c2) includes changing the angle of the blade by causing the blade to move around the articulated joint.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cutting device comprises a joint having an axis, and wherein step (c2) comprises changing the angle of the cutting device in order to control a depth of the cut.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cutting device comprises a joint having an axis, and wherein step (c2) comprises changing the angle of the cutting device in order to move the cut away from the suture thread.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising repeating steps (d) and step (e).

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein step (d) includes rotating the suture thread 120 degrees about the longitudinal axis.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein step (d) includes rotating the suture thread 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis.

19. A method for cutting a suture thread having a surface and a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

(a) setting the suture thread on a support;

(b) contacting the suture thread with a blade having an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread;

(c1) moving the blade along a preselected path to make a first angled cut in the surface of the suture thread without cutting entirely through the suture thread, where the preselected path includes at least one of,

a transverse x-axis component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread,

a longitudinal y-axis component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread, and

a depth z-axis component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suture thread and the transverse x-axis;

(c2) during (c1) changing the angle of the blade;

(d) rotating the suture thread about the longitudinal axis;

(e1) moving the blade along said preselected path to make a second angled cut in the surface of the suture thread without cutting entirely through the suture thread; and

(e2) during (e1) changing the angle of the blade.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising repeating steps (d), (e1) and (e2).