US5383904A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stiffened surgical device
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-13
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Granted: 1995-01-24
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Expires: 2012-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A suture-pledget combination is improved by applying a stiffening agent to at least a portion of the suture adjacent to the pledget to decrease the probability of tangling or twisting of the suture during use.
Inventors
- 👤 Nagabhushanam Totakura
- 👤 Ross Muth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L17/00; A61L17/14; A61L17/145; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/0401; A61B2017/0406; A61B2017/06057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of treating a suture-pledget device with a pledget disposed on a central region of the suture comprising applying a stiffening agent to at least a portion of the suture adjacent to the pledget wherein the stiffening agent is applied to the suture and the pledget is substantially unstiffened.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of treating a suture-pledget device with a pledget disposed on a central region of the suture comprising applying a stiffening agent to at least a portion of the suture adjacent to the pledget wherein the stiffening agent is applied to the suture and the pledget is substantially unstiffened.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of applying a stiffening agent comprises submerging at least a portion of the suture in the stiffening agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of applying a stiffening agent comprises coating, spraying, brushing or wiping the stiffening agent onto at least a portion of the suture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising covering the pledge with a material suitable for preventing the stiffening agent from contacting said pledget.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the material covering the pledget is a metal foil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the stiffening agent comprises homopolymers and copolymers selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyhydroxy alkyl methacrylate, polyacrylamide, polyalkylene oxide and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein the stiffening agent comprises poly (2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of applying a stiffening agent comprises applying to the suture a solution of stiffening agent dissolved in at least one organic solvent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein the organic solvent is ethyl alcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the stiffening agent comprises materials selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, alginic acid, poly-n-acetyl glucose amine, poly-n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, and mixtures and copolymers thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein the solvent is water.
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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) | 1998-01-23 | 1998-07-25 | 1999-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-23 | 2002-07-25 | 2003-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-23 | 2006-07-25 | 2007-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |