US4832025A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermoplastic surgical suture with a melt fused length
Assignee: Covidien AG
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Filing: 1987-07-30
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Granted: 1989-05-23
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Expires: 2007-07-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a multifilament thermoplastic surgical suture having a plurality of meltfused filaments where the filaments are only melt fused for a controlled length from at least one end of the suture. This melt fused end invention eliminates the end dipping operation for multifilament sutures. Preferably, the melt fused or bonded length of suture has at least eighty percent of the tensile strength of an unfused portion, as a substitute for the end-dipped suture.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter A. Coates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L17/00; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06166; D; D02; D02J; D02J1/00; D02J1/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/608; Y10T442/69
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A multfilament thermoplastic surgical suture having a plurality of meltfused filaments, the improvement comprising the filaments being meltfused for a length of less than about forty millimeters from at least one end of the suture, the tensile strength of the meltfused length being at least about eighty percent of the tensile strength of an infused portion of said suture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A multfilament thermoplastic surgical suture having a plurality of meltfused filaments, the improvement comprising the filaments being meltfused for a length of less than about forty millimeters from at least one end of the suture, the tensile strength of the meltfused length being at least about eighty percent of the tensile strength of an infused portion of said suture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The suture of claim 1 having a cut end surface at both ends of said suture, the suture further having an axial centerline, wherein the cut end surface proximal to the meltfused filaments is perpendicular to the axial centerline of said suture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The suture of claim 1 having a cut end surface at both ends of said suture, the suture further having an axial centerline, wherein the cut end surface proximal to the meltfused filaments is olbique to the axial centerline of said suture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The suture of claim 3 wherein said end surface is about fifty to eighty degrees from said centerline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The suture of claim 4 wherein said end surface is about sixty to seventy degrees from said centerline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture of claim 3 having a needle attached to at least a portion of said length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The suture of claim 6 having a needle attached to both ends of said suture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
The suture of claim 6 having a drilled end needle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The suture of claim 6 having a flanged end needle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The suture of claim 1 or 6 wherein the thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyamide, and a polyolefin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The suture of claim 10 wherein the polyester is poly(glycolic acid).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The suture of claim 11 wherein the poly(glycolic acid) is a homopolymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The suture of claim 11 wherein the poly(glycolic acid) is a copolymer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-22 | 1992-11-21 | 1993-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-22 | 1996-11-21 | 1997-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-22 | 2000-11-21 | 2001-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |