US5330442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Suture retaining clip
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-09
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Granted: 1994-07-19
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Expires: 2012-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A suture holding clip including legs each having a suture contacting surface. The legs can be closed to define an interface for holding a suture in a serpentine configuration. In another embodiment the suture holding clip is initially in a spider leg configuration with a spine and legs projecting from the spine and alternately angled to one or the other of two directions so as to define therebetween a lengthwise extending passage for the reception therethrough of a suture.
Inventors
- 👤 David T. Green
- 👤 Henry Bolanos
- 👤 Henry R. Sienkiewicz
- 👤 Kenneth E. Toso
- 👤 Michael S. Kolesa
- 👤 H. Johnathan Tovey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0487; A61B17/06; A61B17/12; A61B17/122; A61B17/0401; A61B2017/0446; A61B2017/0448; A61B2017/045; A61B2017/0454; A61B2017/0464
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs each having at least one suture contacting surface engagement with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, said suture clip having at least two interlock means spaced apart from each other to prevent reopening of the suture holding clip after it has been fully closed; wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs each having at least one suture contacting surface engagement with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, said suture clip having at least two interlock means spaced apart from each other to prevent reopening of the suture holding clip after it has been fully closed; wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The suture holding clip of claim 1 wherein said legs include a proximal end and a distal end and said suture holding clip includes a proximal base portion to which the proximal ends of said legs are integrally connected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The suture holding clip of claim 2 wherein said base portion is recessed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The suture holding clip of claim 1 wherein said clip is fabricated as a single piece from a flexible material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The suture holding clip of claim 4 wherein said flexible material is a bioabsorbable material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The suture holding clip of claim 5 wherein said bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polymers of glycolide, lactide, caprolactone, and 1,4-dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate, and combinations thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture holding clip of claim 1 further including means to couple one of said clips with another of said clips.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The suture holding clip of claim 7 wherein said coupling means includes at least one coupling lug projecting outwardly from an outside edge of at least one of said first and second legs, and at least one notch located on an inside edge of said at least one leg for receiving a coupling lug.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture holding clip of claim 1 wherein said five planar walls are arranged in stepwise orientation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
253 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs, each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being moveable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, said legs each including a proximal end and a distal end and said suture holding clip including a proximal base portion to which the proximal ends of said legs are integrally connected, wherein each leg further includes means to interlock with the other of said legs to prevent reopening of the suture clip after it has been closed, wherein said suture contacting surface of said first leg comprises a first planar wall extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first leg, and a second planar wall extending substantially parallel to said first planar wall, said first and second planar walls being separated by an elongated ridge extending substantially parallel to said first planar wall, and said second leg has a third planar wall extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second leg, and a fourth planar wall extending substantially parallel to said third planar wall, said third and fourth planar walls being separated by an elongated indentation extending substantially parallel to said third planar wall, said elongated indentation being engageable with said elongated ridge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
253 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs, each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being moveable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, said legs each including a proximal end and a distal end and said suture holding clip including a proximal base portion to which the proximal ends of said legs are integrally connected, wherein each leg further includes means to interlock with the other of said legs to prevent reopening of the suture clip after it has been closed, wherein said suture contacting surface of said first leg comprises a first planar wall extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first leg, and a second planar wall extending substantially parallel to said first planar wall, said first and second planar walls being separated by an elongated ridge extending substantially parallel to said first planar wall, and said second leg has a third planar wall extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second leg, and a fourth planar wall extending substantially parallel to said third planar wall, said third and fourth planar walls being separated by an elongated indentation extending substantially parallel to said third planar wall, said elongated indentation being engageable with said elongated ridge.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
286 words
A method for repairing body tissue, comprising: a) providing at least two suture holding clips wherein each clip comprises first and second legs each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture containing surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, and each of said first and second legs further including interlocking means at at least two spaced apart locations; wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls; b) attaching a first of said suture holding clips to a suture and passing said suture through body tissue until said suture holding clip abuts the body tissue such that a middle portion of said suture is inside the body tissue and the two end portions of said suture are exposed, one of said end portions having said first of said suture holding clips attached thereto; c) attaching another of said suture holding clips to the other of said exposed suture end portions in close proximity to the body tissue; and, d) interlocking the first and second legs of each of said first and second suture holding clips at said interlocking means at said at least two spaced apart locations along each leg to prevent reopening of each clip of said first and second clips after said each clip has been moved to said closed position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
286 words
A method for repairing body tissue, comprising: a) providing at least two suture holding clips wherein each clip comprises first and second legs each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture containing surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, and each of said first and second legs further including interlocking means at at least two spaced apart locations; wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls; b) attaching a first of said suture holding clips to a suture and passing said suture through body tissue until said suture holding clip abuts the body tissue such that a middle portion of said suture is inside the body tissue and the two end portions of said suture are exposed, one of said end portions having said first of said suture holding clips attached thereto; c) attaching another of said suture holding clips to the other of said exposed suture end portions in close proximity to the body tissue; and, d) interlocking the first and second legs of each of said first and second suture holding clips at said interlocking means at said at least two spaced apart locations along each leg to prevent reopening of each clip of said first and second clips after said each clip has been moved to said closed position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture holding clip of claim 11 wherein said five planar walls are arranged in stepwise orientation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, further including means to couple one of said clips with another of said clips, wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
122 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, further including means to couple one of said clips with another of said clips, wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture holding clip of claim 13 wherein said five planar walls are arranged in stepwise orientation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
150 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, further including at least one coupling leg projecting outwardly from an outside edge of at least one of said first and second legs, and at least one notch located on an outside edge of at least one leg for receiving a coupling leg; wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
150 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, further including at least one coupling leg projecting outwardly from an outside edge of at least one of said first and second legs, and at least one notch located on an outside edge of at least one leg for receiving a coupling leg; wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture holding clip of claim 15 wherein said five planar walls are arranged in stepwise orientation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
136 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs, each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, wherein each leg further includes means to interlock with the other of said legs to prevent reopening of the suture clip after it has been fully closed, and wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
136 words
A suture holding clip, which comprises: first and second legs, each having at least one suture contacting surface engageable with the suture contacting surface of the other of said legs to form a serpentine interface therebetween, said first and second legs being movable between an open position wherein said suture contacting surfaces define a gap therebetween for the reception of at least one suture strand and a closed position wherein said suture contacting surfaces are engaged, wherein each leg further includes means to interlock with the other of said legs to prevent reopening of the suture clip after it has been fully closed, and wherein said suture contacting surface of each of said first and second legs comprises five planar walls and four substantially right angle corners formed by the intersections of said five planar walls.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suture holding clip of claim 17 wherein said five planar walls are arranged in stepwise orientation.
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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) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-01-17 | 1998-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-01-17 | 2002-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-01-17 | 2006-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |