BIOABSORBABLE STAPLE COMPRISING MECHANISM FOR DELAYING THE ABSORPTION OF THE STAPLE
A surgical staple comprising a substrate and one or more coatings which delay the bioabsorption of the substrate. The coating can be selected so as to affect the environment surrounding the staple once the staple is implanted in the patient. The effect on the environment can cause the bioabsorption to occur within a desired time frame.
1 . A staple, comprising:
a wire comprising a base and a leg extending from the base, wherein the wire is comprised of bioabsorbable metal that degrades at an absorption rate when exposed to at least one of water and oxygen; and
a coating that delays the initiation of the degradation of the bioabsorbable metal at the absorption rate after the staple has been implanted in a patient.
2 . The staple of claim 1 , wherein the wire comprises a joint connecting the base and the leg, and wherein the coating does not cover the joint.
3 . The staple of claim 1 , wherein the wire comprises a covered portion covered with the coating and an uncovered portion that is not covered with the coating.
4 . The staple of claim 1 , wherein the entire wire is coated with the coating.
5 . The staple of claim 1 , wherein the metal comprises zinc.
6 . The staple of claim 1 , wherein the metal comprises magnesium.
7 . The staple of claim 1 , wherein the absorption rate is a function of the environment surrounding the staple when the staple is implanted in the patient.
8 . The staple of claim 7 , wherein the coating degrades once implanted in the patient, and wherein the coating is selected to affect the environment surrounding the staple and influence the absorption rate through the environment effect.
9 . A staple, comprising:
a wire comprising a base and a leg extending from the base, wherein the wire is comprised of bioabsorbable metal that oxidizes at an absorption rate when exposed to at least one of water and oxygen; and
a coating that delays the oxidation of the bioabsorbable metal at the absorption rate.
10 . The staple of claim 1 , wherein the absorption rate is a function of the environment surrounding the staple when the staple is implanted in the patient.
11 . The staple of claim 10 , wherein the coating degrades once implanted in the patient, and wherein the coating is selected to affect the environment surrounding the staple and influence the absorption rate through the environment effect.
12 . A staple, comprising:
a wire comprising a base and a leg extending from the base, wherein the wire is comprised of bioabsorbable metal that has an internal degradation mechanism when exposed to at least one of water and oxygen; and
means for delaying the initiation of the internal degradation mechanism of the bioabsorbable metal after the staple has been implanted in a patient.
13 . A staple, comprising:
a wire comprising a base and a leg extending from the base, wherein the wire is comprised of metal that degrades at an absorption rate when exposed to at least one of water and oxygen; and
a coating that is non-permeable when the staple is implanted in a patient, wherein the coating delays the initiation of the degradation of the metal while non-permeable, and wherein the coating is bioabsorbable and becomes permeable after being implanted into the patient exposing the metal to at least one of water and oxygen.
14 . The staple of claim 13 , wherein the absorption rate is a function of the environment surrounding the staple when the staple is implanted in the patient.
15 . The staple of claim 14 , wherein the coating degrades once implanted in the patient, and wherein the coating is selected to affect the environment surrounding the staple and influence the absorption rate through the environment effect.
16 . A staple, comprising:
a substrate comprised of metal that degrades when exposed to at least one of water and oxygen, wherein the substrate comprises a first metal region and a second metal region; and
a coating on the metal that is non-permeable when the staple is implanted in a patient, wherein the coating delays the initiation of the degradation of the metal while non-permeable, wherein the coating comprises a first coating portion covering the first metal region and a second coating portion covering the second metal region, wherein the first coating portion is bioabsorbable and becomes at least partially permeable after a first period of time after the staple is implanted into the patient exposing the metal to at least one of water and oxygen, wherein the second coating portion is bioabsorbable and becomes at least partially permeable after a second period of time after the staple is implanted into the patient exposing the metal to at least one of water and oxygen, and wherein the second period of time is longer than the first period of time.
17 - 20 . (canceled)