US3636956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polylactide sutures
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
•
Filing: 1970-05-13
•
Granted: 1972-01-25
•
Expires: 1990-05-13
Abstract
Abstract Absorbable surgical sutures that are dimensionally stable within the body may be prepared by the extrusion of polylactide polymer, including copolymers of L(-) lactide with up to 35 mole percent of glycolide. Said polymers are characterized by an inherent viscosity of at least 1.0, and the extruded filaments are oriented by drawing at a temperature of about 50* to about 140* at a draw ratio of up to 11x, and annealed. Sutures so prepared have a tensile strength of from 25,000 p.s.i. to 100,000 p.s.i.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan K Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 15:52
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G63/00; C08G63/02; C08G63/06; C08G63/08; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06166; A61L; A61L17/00; A61L17/06; A61L17/10; A61L17/12; A61B2017/00004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 78
Claim 1
Independent Claim
15 words
The suture of claim 1, packaged in a dry atmosphere within a hermetically sealed container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
12 words
The suture of claim 1, packaged within an evacuated hermetically sealed container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The suture of claim 1, wherein the polylactide polymer is a poly L(-) lactide containing up to 15 percent by weight of repeating units derived from DL-lactide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The suture of claim 1, containing a minor amount of inert coloring agent and plasticizer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The suture of claim 1, containing bis 2-methoxyethyl phthalate as a plasticizer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: sewing living tissue with the suture of claim 107, whereby said suture becomes imbedded in the tissue; and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The suture of claim 1, having a sterile needle attached to one end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 8, packaged in a dry atmosphere within a hermetically sealed container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 8, packaged within an evacuated hermetically sealed container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 8, wherein said monofilament is a poly-L-(-) lactide containing up to 15 percent by weight of repeating units derived from DL-lactide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 8, wherein said monofilament is a 95/5 weight percent copolymer of L(-) lactide and DL-lactide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 8, wherein said monofilament contains a minor amount of inert coloring agent and plasticizer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 8, wherein said monofilament contains bis 2-methoxyethyl phthalate as a plasticizer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: sewing living tissue with the suture of claim 114, whereby said suture becomes imbedded in the tissue; and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
A sterile surgical suture absorbable without causing unfavorable tissue reaction and essentially dimensionally stable within the body comprising a synthetic polylactide copolymer containing at least about 65 mole percent of repeating units derived from one antipodal species of alpha-hydroxypropionic acid and not more than about 35 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid, said polylactide being characterized by having an inherent viscosity of at least 1.2 at 0.1 percent concentration in a suitable solvent at 25* C. and by losing at least about 20 percent of its weight on treatment with boiling water for a period of 100 hours, and being further characterized by exhibiting a tensile strength of from 40,000 p.s.i. to about 100,000 p.s.i. and by having a diameter of 0.0005-0.045 inches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The suture of claim 16, packaged in a dry atmosphere within a hermetically sealed container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The suture of claim 16, packaged within an evacuated hermetically sealed container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 16, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 35 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 16, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 30 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 16, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 25 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 16, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 20 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 16, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 15 weight percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 16, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 5 weight percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The suture of claim 16, containing a minor amount of inert coloring agent and plasticizer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The suture of claim 16, containing bis 2-methoxy-ethyl phthalate as a plasticizer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: sewing living tissue with the suture of claim 16, whereby said suture becomes imbedded in the tissue; and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The suture of claim 16, having a sterile needle attached to one end thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, packaged in a dry atmosphere within a hermetically sealed container.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, packaged within an evacuated hermetically sealed container.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, wherein the polylactide polymer contains about 35 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, wherein the polyactide polymer contains about 30 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, wherein the polylactide polymer contains about 25 mole percent of repeating units derived from Alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, wherein the polylactide polymer contains about 20 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, wherein the polylactide polymer contains about 15 weight percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, wherein the polylactide polymer contains about 5 weight percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, wherein said monofilament contains a minor amount of inert coloring agent and plasticizer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 28, wherein said monofilament contains bis 2-methoxyethyl phthalate as a plasticizer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: sewing living tissue with the needle and suture combination of claim 28, whereby said suture becomes imbedded in the tissue; and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
228 words
A sterile surgical suture absorbable without causing unfavorable tissue reaction and essentially dimensionally stable within the body in the form of a braided structure, comprising filaments of a synthetic polylactide polymer containing at least about 85 percent by weight of repeating units of one antipodal species of alpha-hydroxypropionic acid and no more than about 15 percent by weight of repeating units of the formula where R is lower alkylene, m is an integer of 0 to 1, R'' is selected from the class consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl, and R'''', which can be the same or different from R'', is selected from the class consisting of hydrogen and alkyl group of up to 22 carbons when m is 0 and, when m is 1, R'''' is selected from the class consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl, said polylactide being characterized by having an inherent viscosity of at least 1.2 at 0.1 percent concentration in benzene at 25* C. and by losing at least about 20 percent of its weight on treatment with boiling water for a period of 100 hours, at least 50 percent of the filaments making up the braided structure being oriented and the diameter of the filaments ranging from 0.00025 to 0.003 inches; and the braided structure itself being characterized by exhibiting a tensile strength of from 40,000 p.s.i. to about 100, 000 p.s.i.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The suture of claim 40, packaged in a dry atmosphere within a hermetically sealed container.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The suture of claim 40, packaged within an evacuated hermetically sealed container.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The suture of claim 40, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided structure contain up to 15 percent by weight of repeating units derived from DL-lactide.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The suture of claim 40, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided structure are a 95/5 weight percent copolymer of L(-) lactide and DL-lactide.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The suture of claim 40, wherein the filaments that make up said braided structure contain a minor amount of inert coloring agent and plasticizer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 40, wherein the filaments that make up said braided structure contain bis 2-methoxyethyl phthalate as a plasticizer.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: sewing living tissue with the suture of claim 40, whereby said suture becomes imbedded in the tissue; and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The suture of claim 40, having a sterile needle attached to one eNd thereof.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 48, packaged in a dry atmosphere within a hermetically sealed container.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 48, packaged within an evacuated hermetically sealed container.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 48, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided structure contain up to 15 percent by weight of repeating units derived from DL-lactide.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 48, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided suture are a 95.5 weight percent copolymer of L(-) lactide and DL-lactide.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
27 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 48, wherein the filaments that make up said braided suture contain a minor amount of inert coloring agent and plasticizer.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
24 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 48, wherein the filaments that make up said braided suture contain bis 2-methoxyethyl phthalate as a plasticizer.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: sewing living tissue with the suture and needle combination of claim 47, whereby said suture becomes imbedded in the tissue; and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
148 words
A sterile surgical suture absorbable without causing unfavorable tissue reaction and essentially dimensionally stable within the body in the form of a braided structure comprising filaments of a synthetic polylactide copolymer containing at least 60 mole percent of repeating units derived from one antipodal species of alpha-hydroxypropionic acid and no more than 40 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid, said polylactide being characterized by having an inherent viscosity of at least 1.2 at 0.1 percent concentration in a suitable solvent at 25* C. and by losing at least about 20 percent of its weight on treatment with boiling water for a period of 100 hours, at least 50 percent of the filaments making up the braided structure being oriented, and the braided structure itself being further characterized by exhibiting a tensile strength of at least 15,000 p.s.i. 10 days following implantation in an animal body.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
15 words
The suture of claim 56, packaged in a dry atmosphere within a hermetically sealed container.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
12 words
The suture of claim 56, packaged within an evacuated hermetically sealed container.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 56, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 35 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 56, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 30 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 56, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 25 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 56, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 20 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 56, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 15 weight percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 56, wherein the polylactide copolymer contains about 5 weight percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
24 words
The suture of claim 56, wherein the filaments that make up said braided structure contain a minor amount of inert coloring agent and plasticizer.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
21 words
The suture of claim 56, wherein the filaments that make up said braided structure contain bis 2-methoxyethyl phthalate as a plasticizer.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: sewing living tissue with the suture of clAim 56, whereby said suture becomes imbedded in the tissue; and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
14 words
The suture of claim 56, having a sterile needle attached to one end thereof.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 68, packaged in a dry atmosphere within a hermetically sealed container.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
15 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 68, packaged within an evacuated hermetically sealed container.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
31 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 68, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided structure contain about 35 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
31 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 68, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided structure contain about 30 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
31 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 68, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided structure contain about 25 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
28 words
The suture of claim 68, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided structure contain about 20 mole percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
31 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 68, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided structure contain about 15 weight percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
31 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 68, wherein the polylactide copolymer filaments that make up said braided structure contain about 5 weight percent of repeating units derived from alpha-hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
27 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 68, wherein the filaments that make up said braided structure contain a minor amount of inert coloring agent and plasticizer.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
24 words
The needle and suture combination of claim 68, wherein the filaments that make up said braided structure contain bis 2-methoxyethyl phthalate as a plasticizer.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: sewing living tissue with the needle and suture combination of claim 68, whereby said suture becomes imbedded in the tissue; and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-24 | 1975-07-26 | 1976-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-24 | 1979-07-26 | 1980-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-24 | 1983-07-26 | 1984-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |