US3926194A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sutures with reduced diameter at suture tip
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1974-11-20
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1994-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A needle-suture combination is provided in which the suture has at its tip within a recess at the blunt end of the needle and extending to a segment adjacent the attachment of the suture to the needle, a cross-sectional area and a cross-sectional amount of suture material less than the cross-sectional area and the cross-sectional amount of suture material in the remainder of its length. In one embodiment, the invention provides a weakened segment which permits a surgeon to separate the needle from the suture by a sharp tug. In another embodiment the invention also permits the use of needles having substantially the same external diameter as the suture attached thereto so that the suture in the sewn tissue substantially plugs the needle hole.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan Fred Greenberg
- 👤 Robert T Quade
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06004; A61B17/06195; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A needle-suture combination comprising a needle having a sharp end and a blunt end and having a recess at said blunt end, a suture having one tip positioned within said recess, means retaining said tip of said suture within said recess to attach said suture to said needle, said tip within said recess and a segment thereof beyond said recess and adjacent the location of the attachment of the suture to said needle being reduced in cross-sectional area and in the amount of cross-sectional suture material as compared to the cross-sectional area and the amount of cross-sectional suture material in the remainder of the suture length.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A needle-suture combination comprising a needle having a sharp end and a blunt end and having a recess at said blunt end, a suture having one tip positioned within said recess, means retaining said tip of said suture within said recess to attach said suture to said needle, said tip within said recess and a segment thereof beyond said recess and adjacent the location of the attachment of the suture to said needle being reduced in cross-sectional area and in the amount of cross-sectional suture material as compared to the cross-sectional area and the amount of cross-sectional suture material in the remainder of the suture length.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A needle-suture combination of claim 1 wherein said suture comprises a monofilament.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A needle suture combination of claim 1 wherein said suture comprises a multifilament suture which is unified at said suture end and which has fewer fibers at said suture end than in the remainder of said suture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A needle-suture combination of claim 3 wherein saId suture end is unified by resin impregnation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The needle suture combination of claim 1 wherein said suture comprises a synthetic polymeric material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, and polypropylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The needle-suture combination of claim 5 wherein said suture comprises a polyester selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and homopolymers and copolymers of glycolide and lactide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The needle-suture combination of claim 1 wherein said suture comprises a material selected from the group consisting of collagen, silk, cotton, and linen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A needle-suture combination of claim 7 wherein said collagenous material is catgut.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A needle-suture combination of claim 7 wherein said collagenous material is extruded collagen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A needle-suture combination of claim 1 wherein said suture is rupturable adjacent its junction to the needle by a straight pull at a force between about 3 ounces and about 26 ounces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The needle-suture combination of claim 1 wherein said recess is a drilled hole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The needle-suture combination of claim 1 wherein said recess is a closed channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The needle-suture combination of claim 1 wherein said cross-sectional area (in square inches) at said reduced portion is equivalent to KP/DT in which P is the desired rupture load, ranging from 0.2 to 1.6 pounds, D is the suture density of the suture, T is the tensile strength of the suture material in pounds per square inch, and K is a constant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle-suture combination of claim 13 wherein said suture comprises a monofilament and said suture density is unity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The needle-suture combination of claim 13 wherein said suture comprises a braided suture and said suture density is between about 0.70 and about 0.95 percent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A needle-suture combination of claim 13 wherein the suture material is catgut, D is unity, and K is a constant having a value of about 1.3.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The needle-suture combination of claim 1 wherein the suture diameter beyond said tip of reduced cross-sectional area has a diameter at least 85 percent as great as the needle diameter but no greater than the needle diameter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |