HIGH FRICTION FASTENING FLAT BRAID
A suture having a contoured surface may include a plurality of first ends having a first diameter and a plurality of second ends having a second diameter. The first and second ends may be braided together, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter to form the contoured surface. The first ends and the second ends may braided into a flat braid. In some embodiments, the first ends may comprise a material having a greater coefficient of friction than the second end. A method of securing first and second suture segments is also provided.
1 . A suture having a contoured surface, the suture comprising:
a plurality of first ends having a first diameter; and
a plurality second ends braided with the first ends, the second ends having a second diameter,
wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter to form the contoured surface.
2 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein the first ends and the second ends are braided into a flat braid.
3 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein the first ends comprise a first material, and the second ends comprises a second material, the first material having a greater coefficient of friction than the second material.
4 . The suture of claim 3 , wherein the first material comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
5 . The suture of claim 4 , wherein the first ends comprise at least two fibers of PET twisted together.
6 . The suture of claim 3 , wherein the second material comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).
7 . The suture of claim 6 , wherein the second ends comprise at least two fibers of UHMWPE twisted tougher.
8 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein the first ends comprises a first linear density, and the second ends comprise a second linear density, the first linear density being greater than the second linear density.
9 . The suture of claim 8 , wherein the first linear density is at least about two times greater than the second linear density.
10 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein the first diameter is at least about two times greater than the second diameter.
11 . The suture of claim 1 , further comprising a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment is configured to mesh with the second segment.
12 . The suture of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first ends of the first segment is configured to be received between adjacent first ends of the second segment.
13 . The suture of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the first ends of the first segment is configured to frictionally engage the adjacent first ends of the second segment.
14 . The suture of claim 1 , wherein the first ends and the second ends alternate.
15 . A suture having a contoured surface, the suture comprising:
a first segment and a second segment, the first and second segments comprising:
a plurality of first ends having a first diameter, and
a plurality of second ends braided with the first ends into a flat braid, the second ends having a second diameter,
wherein the first diameter is at least about two times greater than the second diameter to form the contoured surface, and
wherein at least one of the first ends of the first segment is configured to be received between adjacent first ends of the second segment, and the at least one of the first ends of first segment is configured to frictionally engage the adjacent first ends of the second segment.
16 . The suture of claim 15 , wherein the first ends comprise PET.
17 . The suture of claim 15 , wherein the second ends comprise UHMWPE.
18 . A method of securing first and second suture segments, the method comprising:
overlaying a first flat braid of the first suture segment onto a second flat braid of the second suture segment;
receiving an end of the first flat braid between adjacent ends of the second flat braid; and
frictionally engaging the end of the first flat braid with at least one of the adjacent ends of the second flat braid.
19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising frictionally engaging the end of the first flat braid with both of the adjacent ends of the flat braid.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first and second suture segments are of a single suture.