Loop threaded combined surgical needle-suture device

Claim 1

In combination, a needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending generally axially thereof and having a substantially elliptical cross-sectional configuration for reception of needle suture material, a suture loop formed from flexible suture material, said flexible suture material having two free ends positioned in engaged adjacent relation within said substantially elliptical aperture of said needle such that the combined dimension of said free ends of suture material corresponds generally to the greater cross-sectional dimension of said aperture, said flexible suture material being of length at least about 60 inches such that said loop is about 30 inches in length to facilitate insertion of said needle and at least a portion of said flexible looped suture material into body tissue to be sutured, and looping said needle through said lop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue, said needle being inwardly swaged at said butt end to provide predetermined inward attachment force on said free ends of said suture material sufficient to attach said suture material to said needle.

Claim 12

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an elongated aperture extending axially thereof and being of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length to facilitate insertion of said needle and at least a portion of said flexible material into body tissue to be sutured, and looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; c) deforming said butt end of said needle such that said aperture assumes a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension substantially perpendicular to said major dimension, said aperture of said needle being dimensioned sufficient to receive a predetermined length of said free end portions of said flexible suture material while maintaining said free end portions in said end to end relation; d) positioning a pair of dies about said butt end of said needle and; e) applying at least one inwardly directed force to said dies and thereby to said butt end of said needle to cause said needle material to become inwardly swaged sufficient to provide inward predetermined attachment force on said suture material.

Claim 13

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an elongated aperture extending axially thereof and being of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length to facilitate insertion of said needle and at least a portion of said flexible material into body tissue to be sutured, and looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; c) deforming said butt end of said needle such that said aperture assumes a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension substantially perpendicular to said major dimension, said aperture of said needle being dimensioned sufficient to receive a predetermined length of said free end portions of said flexible suture material while maintaining said free end portions in said end to end relation; d) positioning a pair of dies about said butt end of said needle and; e) applying at least one inwardly directed force to said dies and thereby to said butt end of said needle to cause said needle material to become inwardly swaged sufficient to provide inward predetermined attachment force on said suture material.

Claim 18

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending axially thereof and of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation; c) deforming said butt end such that said aperture of said needle assumes a cross-sectional shape having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension substantially perpendicular to said major dimension, said aperture of said needle being dimensioned sufficient to receive a predetermined length of said free end portions of said flexible suture material while maintaining said free end portions in said end to end relation; d) positioning a pair of dies about said butt end of said needle, each die having a generally arcuate undulating surface portion facing said butt end and including concave portions; and e) applying inward force to said dies to cause said dies to strike said needle butt end to transmit inward crimping forces thereto so as to attach said flexible suture material to said needle while permitting deformed material of said needle butt end to collect within said concave portions so as to avoid distortion of said butt end.

Claim 19

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending axially thereof and of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation; c) deforming said butt end such that said aperture of said needle assumes a cross-sectional shape having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension substantially perpendicular to said major dimension, said aperture of said needle being dimensioned sufficient to receive a predetermined length of said free end portions of said flexible suture material while maintaining said free end portions in said end to end relation; d) positioning a pair of dies about said butt end of said needle, each die having a generally arcuate undulating surface portion facing said butt end and including concave portions; and e) applying inward force to said dies to cause said dies to strike said needle butt end to transmit inward crimping forces thereto so as to attach said flexible suture material to said needle while permitting deformed material of said needle butt end to collect within said concave portions so as to avoid distortion of said butt end.

Claim 21

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending axially thereof and of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation; c) deforming said butt end such that said aperture of said needle assumes a cross-sectional shape having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension substantially perpendicular to said major dimension, said aperture of said needle being dimensioned sufficient to receive a predetermined length of said free end portions of said flexible suture material while maintaining said free end portions in said end to end relation; d) positioning a pair of dies about said butt end of said needle, each die having a pair of inner arcuate surface portions spaced apart from each other to provide a material relief zone; and e) applying inward force to said dies sufficient to cause crimping of said needle butt end so as to attach said flexible suture material to said needle while permitting portions of material forming part of said butt end to be deformed and to collect within relief zones between said pairs of arcuate surface portions.

Claim 22

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending axially thereof and of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation; c) deforming said butt end such that said aperture of said needle assumes a cross-sectional shape having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension substantially perpendicular to said major dimension, said aperture of said needle being dimensioned sufficient to receive a predetermined length of said free end portions of said flexible suture material while maintaining said free end portions in said end to end relation; d) positioning a pair of dies about said butt end of said needle, each die having a pair of inner arcuate surface portions spaced apart from each other to provide a material relief zone; and e) applying inward force to said dies sufficient to cause crimping of said needle butt end so as to attach said flexible suture material to said needle while permitting portions of material forming part of said butt end to be deformed and to collect within relief zones between said pairs of arcuate surface portions.

Claim 24

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending axially thereof and of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length to facilitate insertion of said needle and at least a portion of said flexible suture material into body tissue to be sutured, and looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; c) deforming said butt end such that said aperture of said needle assembly assumes a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape; d) inserting a predetermined length of said free end portions of said suture material into said substantially elliptical aperture while maintaining said free end portions in end to end relation; e) providing a first inwardly directed force in a first direction; and f) providing a second inwardly directed force in a second direction different from said first direction to swage said butt end to said suture.

Claim 25

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending axially thereof and of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length to facilitate insertion of said needle and at least a portion of said flexible suture material into body tissue to be sutured, and looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; c) deforming said butt end such that said aperture of said needle assembly assumes a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape; d) inserting a predetermined length of said free end portions of said suture material into said substantially elliptical aperture while maintaining said free end portions in end to end relation; e) providing a first inwardly directed force in a first direction; and f) providing a second inwardly directed force in a second direction different from said first direction to swage said butt end to said suture.

Claim 27

A method of suturing body tissue with a looped suture device having a needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending generally axially thereof and having a cross-sectional dimension greater in a first direction than the cross-sectional dimension substantially perpendicular to said first direction, a loop formed from a flexible suture material and having both free ends positioned within said aperture and attached to said needle, comprising inserting said needle into the body tissue until at least a portion of said suture material penetrates the body tissue, substantially reversing the direction of said needle and inserting said needle through said looped suture material.

Claim 28

A method of suturing body tissue with a looped suture device having a needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending generally axially thereof and having a cross-sectional dimension greater in a first direction than the cross-sectional dimension substantially perpendicular to said first direction, a loop formed from a flexible suture material and having both free ends positioned within said aperture and attached to said needle, comprising inserting said needle into the body tissue until at least a portion of said suture material penetrates the body tissue, substantially reversing the direction of said needle and inserting said needle through said looped suture material.

Claim 29

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an elongated aperture extending generally axially thereof and said aperture having a cross-section dimension greater in a first direction than the cross-dimension substantially perpendicular to said first direction; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length at least about 60 inches such that the length of the resilient loop is at least about 30 inches to facilitate insertion of said needle and at least a portion of said flexible suture material into body tissue to be sutured, and looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; c) inserting a predetermined length of said free end portions of said suture material into said elongated aperture while maintaining said free end portions in end to end relation; and d) providing at least one inwardly directed force on said butt end of said needle to cause said needle material to become inwardly swaged sufficient to provide inward predetermined attachment force on said suture material.

Claim 30

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an elongated aperture extending generally axially thereof and said aperture having a cross-section dimension greater in a first direction than the cross-dimension substantially perpendicular to said first direction; b) providing a flexible suture material and looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length at least about 60 inches such that the length of the resilient loop is at least about 30 inches to facilitate insertion of said needle and at least a portion of said flexible suture material into body tissue to be sutured, and looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; c) inserting a predetermined length of said free end portions of said suture material into said elongated aperture while maintaining said free end portions in end to end relation; and d) providing at least one inwardly directed force on said butt end of said needle to cause said needle material to become inwardly swaged sufficient to provide inward predetermined attachment force on said suture material.

Claim 31

A method of repairing body tissue, comprising: a) providing a looped suture device having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending generally axially thereof and having a cross-sectional dimension greater in a first direction than the cross-section dimension substantially perpendicular to said first direction, a loop formed from a flexible suture material and having both free ends positioned within said aperture and attached to said needle, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length to facilitate looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; b) inserting said needle into the body tissue at a location and in direction to effect a repair; c) passing said needle and a substantial portion of said flexible suture material through the body tissue; d) inserting said needle through said looped portion of suture material to tie said suture material with respect to said looped portion and the body tissue.

Claim 32

A method of repairing body tissue, comprising: a) providing a looped suture device having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending generally axially thereof and having a cross-sectional dimension greater in a first direction than the cross-section dimension substantially perpendicular to said first direction, a loop formed from a flexible suture material and having both free ends positioned within said aperture and attached to said needle, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length to facilitate looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; b) inserting said needle into the body tissue at a location and in direction to effect a repair; c) passing said needle and a substantial portion of said flexible suture material through the body tissue; d) inserting said needle through said looped portion of suture material to tie said suture material with respect to said looped portion and the body tissue.

Claim 33

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending axially thereof and being of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and having a generally circular cross-sectional configuration; c) treating the free end portions of said flexible suture material with a tipping agent; d) looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length to facilitate insertion of said needle and at least a portion of said flexible material into body tissue to be sutured, and looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; e) deforming said butt end of said needle such that said aperture assumes a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension substantially perpendicular to said major dimension, said aperture of said needle being dimensioned sufficient to receive a predetermined length of said free end portions of said flexible suture material while maintaining said free end portions in said end to end relation; and f) providing at least one inwardly directed force to said dies and thereby on said butt end of said needle to cause said needle to become inwardly swaged sufficient to provide inward predetermined attachment force on said suture material.

Claim 34

A method of manufacturing a looped suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle having a pointed end and a butt end, said butt end having an aperture extending axially thereof and being of predetermined length; b) providing a flexible suture material and having a generally circular cross-sectional configuration; c) treating the free end portions of said flexible suture material with a tipping agent; d) looping said suture material such that the two free ends thereof are in adjacent engaged end to end relation, said flexible suture material being of sufficient length to facilitate insertion of said needle and at least a portion of said flexible material into body tissue to be sutured, and looping said needle through said loop to tie said suture material with respect to body tissue; e) deforming said butt end of said needle such that said aperture assumes a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape having a major dimension greater than a minor dimension substantially perpendicular to said major dimension, said aperture of said needle being dimensioned sufficient to receive a predetermined length of said free end portions of said flexible suture material while maintaining said free end portions in said end to end relation; and f) providing at least one inwardly directed force to said dies and thereby on said butt end of said needle to cause said needle to become inwardly swaged sufficient to provide inward predetermined attachment force on said suture material.