US5312642A — Method and apparatus for calendering and coating/…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for coating a multifilament surgical suture comprising: a) providing an uncoated multifilament surgical suture; b) applying a first compressive force to the multifilament suture along a first linear direction which is substantially transverse to the axial orientation of the suture, said first compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in a second linear direction substantially orthogonal to said first linear direction, and then applying a second compressive force to said suture substantially along said second linear direction, said second compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to reform the suture to substantially its original cross section; and then, c) coating the suture with an effective amount of coating agent for improving the handling characteristics of the suture.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for coating a multifilament surgical suture comprising: a) providing an uncoated multifilament surgical suture; b) applying a first compressive force to the multifilament suture along a first linear direction which is substantially transverse to the axial orientation of the suture, said first compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in a second linear direction substantially orthogonal to said first linear direction, and then applying a second compressive force to said suture substantially along said second linear direction, said second compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to reform the suture to substantially its original cross section; and then, c) coating the suture with an effective amount of coating agent for improving the handling characteristics of the suture.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 1 additionally including filling the suture with a filling agent after said first and second compressive forces have been applied to the multifilament suture.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said filling agent includes an effective amount of a storage stabilizing agent

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said storage stabilizing agent including glycerol and calcium lactate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said filling agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 5 wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, human growth factors, margin, tissue plasminogen activator, kidney plasminogen activator, superoxide dismutase, tumor necrosis factor, colony stimulating factor, interferon, and interleukin-2.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said coating agent is selected from the group consisting of silicone, beeswax, polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said coating agent includes a lubricant.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said coating agent comprises a bioabsorbable composition obtained by copolymerizing a polyether glycol with at least one of lactide and glycolide.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of applying said first compressive force to the suture comprises passing the suture lengthwise between a first pair of parallel rotatably mounted rollers, at least one of said rollers being biased towards the other one.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said first compressive force is sufficient to achieve a suture compression of up to about 20%, wherein the percentage of suture compression is determined in accordance with the formula: 100×(D.sub.1 -D.sub.2)/D.sub.1 wherein: D 1 =average suture diameter before calendering D 2 =average suture diameter after calendering as measured across the direction in which the compression force is applied.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of applying said second compressive force to the suture comprises passing the suture lengthwise between a second pair of parallel rotatably mounted rollers, at least one of said second pair of rollers being biased towards the other one, said second pair of rollers being oriented substantially orthogonally to said first pair.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said second compressive force is sufficient to achieve a suture compression of up to about 20%, wherein said suture compression is determined in accordance with the formula: 100×(D.sub.1 -D.sub.2)/D.sub.1 wherein: D 1 =average suture diameter before calendering D 2 =average suture diameter after calendering as measured across the direction in which the compression force is applied.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 144 words

A method for filling a multifilament surgical suture comprising: a) providing a multifilament synthetic absorbable surgical suture having a lubricant coating; b) applying a first compressive force to the multifilament suture along a first linear direction which is substantially transverse to the axial orientation of the suture, said first compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in a second linear direction substantially orthogonal to said first linear direction, and then applying a second compressive force to said suture substantially along said second linear direction, said second compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in substantially said first linear direction, said first and second compressive forces disrupting at least a portion of the suture coating; and then, c) filling the suture with an effective amount of a storage stabilizing filling agent.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 144 words

A method for filling a multifilament surgical suture comprising: a) providing a multifilament synthetic absorbable surgical suture having a lubricant coating; b) applying a first compressive force to the multifilament suture along a first linear direction which is substantially transverse to the axial orientation of the suture, said first compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in a second linear direction substantially orthogonal to said first linear direction, and then applying a second compressive force to said suture substantially along said second linear direction, said second compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in substantially said first linear direction, said first and second compressive forces disrupting at least a portion of the suture coating; and then, c) filling the suture with an effective amount of a storage stabilizing filling agent.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said multifilament synthetic absorbable suture is fabricated from a material selected form the group consisting of polymers of glycolide, lactide, dioxanone, caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, and physical and chemical combinations thereof.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 127 words

A method for filling a multifilament synthetic bioabsorbable surgical suture comprising: a) providing a coated multifilament synthetic bioabsorbable surgical suture; b) applying a first compressive force to said suture along a first linear direction which is substantially transverse to the axial orientation of said suture, said first compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in a second linear direction substantially orthogonal to said first linear direction, and then applying a second compressive force to said suture substantially along said second linear direction, said second compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in substantially said first linear direction; and then, c) filling said suture with an effective amount of a storage stabilizing filling agent.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 127 words

A method for filling a multifilament synthetic bioabsorbable surgical suture comprising: a) providing a coated multifilament synthetic bioabsorbable surgical suture; b) applying a first compressive force to said suture along a first linear direction which is substantially transverse to the axial orientation of said suture, said first compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in a second linear direction substantially orthogonal to said first linear direction, and then applying a second compressive force to said suture substantially along said second linear direction, said second compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in substantially said first linear direction; and then, c) filling said suture with an effective amount of a storage stabilizing filling agent.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said multifilament synthetic bioabsorbable suture is fabricated from a material selected form the group consisting of polymers of glycolide, lactide, dioxanone, caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, and physical and chemical combinations thereof.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 135 words

A method for coating and filling a multifilament surgical suture comprising: a) providing a multifilament surgical suture; b) coating said multifilament surgical suture with a coating agent; then c) applying a first compressive force to the multifilament suture along a first linear direction which is substantially transverse to the axial orientation of the suture, said first compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in a second linear direction substantially orthogonal to said first linear direction, and then applying a second compressive force to said suture substantially along said second linear direction, said second compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at lest temporarily in substantially said first linear direction; and then, d) filling the suture with an effective amount of storage stabilizing filling agent.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 135 words

A method for coating and filling a multifilament surgical suture comprising: a) providing a multifilament surgical suture; b) coating said multifilament surgical suture with a coating agent; then c) applying a first compressive force to the multifilament suture along a first linear direction which is substantially transverse to the axial orientation of the suture, said first compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at least temporarily in a second linear direction substantially orthogonal to said first linear direction, and then applying a second compressive force to said suture substantially along said second linear direction, said second compressive force being of sufficient magnitude to expand the suture diameter at lest temporarily in substantially said first linear direction; and then, d) filling the suture with an effective amount of storage stabilizing filling agent.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 158 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said coating agent is a bioabsorbable coating composition obtained by copolymerizing (i) a polyether glycol corresponding to the general formula HO(RO) n H wherein R is an alkylene group of from 2-4 carbon atoms and n is an integer of from about 100-350, and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer, corresponding to the general formula H(OCH 2 CH 2 ) x (OC 3 H 6 ) y (OCH 2 CH 2 ) z OH wherein x is an integer of from about 45-90, y is an integer of from about 60-85 and z is an integer of from about 45-90, with (ii) a mixture of lactide monomer and glycolide monomer of a preformed copolymer of lactide and glycolide, the weight ratio of (i) to (ii) ranging from about 4:1 to about 1:4 and the ratio of lactide to glycolide in (ii) varying from about 65-90 mole percent lactide and 10-35 mole percent glycolide.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said filling agent is selected from the group consisting of a water soluble polyhydroxy compound, and ester of a water soluble polyhydroxy compound, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 20, wherein said polyhydroxy compound is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol triethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, trimethyloethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, and sorbitol, and said ester of said polyhydroxy compound is selected from the group consisting of glycerol monoacetate and glycerol diacetate.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 20, wherein said filling agent further includes a thickener.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 22, wherein said thickener comprises a compound selected form the group consisting of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, guar gum, xanthan gum, gelatin, collagen, alkali and alkaline earth metal salts of lactic acid, salts of glycolic acid, salts of 3-hydroxy propanoic acid, and salts of 3-hydroxybutanoic acid.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 18 wherein said filling agent is glycerol.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 18 wherein said filling agent comprises a mixture of glycerol and thickener.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 25 wherein said thickener is calcium lactate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-05-16	1997-11-15	1998-05-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-05-16	2001-11-15	2002-05-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-05-16	2005-11-15	2006-05-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for calendering and coating/filling sutures

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