US5084063A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Surgical needle-suture attachment
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
•
Filing: 1990-06-04
•
Granted: 1992-01-28
•
Expires: 2010-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A combined surgical needle-suture device of controlled suture release characteristics and a method for manufacturing the device employ a shrinkable tubing and a suture having an expandable tip region to connect the needle to the suture.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert W. Korthoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06004; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for attaching a surgical needle to a suture to provide a combined surgical needle-suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle possessing a shank end of reduced cross-section and a suture possessing an expandable tip region; b) placing a shrinkable tubing around the reduced diameter shank end of the needle and the expandable tip region of the suture; c) shrinking the tubing; and, d) expanding the tip region of the suture, the shrinkage of the tubing and the expansion of the tip of the suture causing engagement of the needle and the suture and providing the combined surgical needle-suture device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for attaching a surgical needle to a suture to provide a combined surgical needle-suture device which comprises: a) providing a surgical needle possessing a shank end of reduced cross-section and a suture possessing an expandable tip region; b) placing a shrinkable tubing around the reduced diameter shank end of the needle and the expandable tip region of the suture; c) shrinking the tubing; and, d) expanding the tip region of the suture, the shrinkage of the tubing and the expansion of the tip of the suture causing engagement of the needle and the suture and providing the combined surgical needle-suture device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 providing an ordinarily non-detachable combined surgical needle-suture device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 providing a detachable combined surgical needle-suture device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the shrinkable characteristics of the tubing and the expansion characteristics of the suture tip are such as to provide an average pull-out force falling within the following range for the suture size indicated: ______________________________________
Average Pull-Out
Suture Size Force/Ounces
______________________________________
8/0 1-2
7/0 1-3
6/0 2-5
5/0 3-7
4/0 3-15
3/0 3-23
2/0 3-26
1/0 10-26
1 10-26
2 and larger 10-26
______________________________________
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the shrinkable tubing is fabricated from a shrinkable metal or a shrinkable plastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the shrinkable tubing is fabricated from a shrinkable polyvinylidene fluoride plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the suture is made of a synthetic polymer which loses substantially all of its orientation and/or crystallinity at a temperature close to, but not as high as, its melting point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the suture is a monofilament or braided suture fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, lactide homopolymer, glycolide homopolymer, lactide copolymer and glycolide copolymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein shrinking of the tubing is achieved by application of heat to the tubing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein expansion of the suture tip is achieved by application of heat to the suture tip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of shrinking the tubing further comprises applying energy to the tubing to shrink the tubing into engagement with the needle shank end and thereafter applying energy to the tubing to shrink the tubing into engagement with the expandable tip region of the suture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein shrinking of the tubing and expanding of the suture tip are carried out simultaneously or sequentially.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
A combined surgical needle-suture device which comprises: a) a surgical needle possessing a shank of reduced cross-section; b) a suture possessing an expandable tip region; and, c) a shrinkable tubing around the reduced diameter shank end of the needle and the expandable tip region of the suture, the tubing being shrunk around the reduced diameter shank end of the needle and the expanded tip region of the suture to provide engagement of the needle and suture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A combined surgical needle-suture device which comprises: a) a surgical needle possessing a shank of reduced cross-section; b) a suture possessing an expandable tip region; and, c) a shrinkable tubing around the reduced diameter shank end of the needle and the expandable tip region of the suture, the tubing being shrunk around the reduced diameter shank end of the needle and the expanded tip region of the suture to provide engagement of the needle and suture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 13 which is an ordinarily non-detachable combined surgical needle-suture device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 13 which is a detachable combined surgical needle-suture device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 15 wherein the shrinkable characteristics of the tubing and the expansion characteristics of the suture tip are such as to provide an average pull-out force falling within the following range for the suture size indicated: ______________________________________
Average Pull-Out
Suture Size Force/Ounces
______________________________________
8/0 1-2
7/0 1-3
6/0 2-5
5/0 3-7
4/0 3-15
3/0 3-23
2/0 3-26
1/0 10-26
1 10-26
2 and larger 10-26
______________________________________
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 13 wherein the suture is fabricated from a fiber-forming material selected from the group consisting of collagen, silk, cotton, linen, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, lactide homopolymer, lactide copolymer, glycolide homopolymer and glycolide copolymer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 13 wherein the shrinkable tubing is a memory metal or shrinkable plastic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 13 wherein the shrinkable tubing is a shrinkable polyvinylidene fluoride material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 13 in which the shank end is provided with a texturized surface to faciliatate gripping by said shrinkable tubing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 20 wherein the shank is scored, ribbed or threaded, in whole or in part.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 13 wherein said shank of reduced cross-section forms a shoulder with a remainder of said needle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 22 wherein said shank of reduced cross-section is tapered to expand in a direction away from said shoulder, such that a distal end of said shank is of greater cross-sectional diameter than cross-sectional diameter of said shank in a region of said shoulder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 22 wherein said shank of reduced cross-section is tapered to expand in a direction toward said shoulder, such that a distal end of said shank is of smaller cross-sectional diameter than cross-sectional diameter of said shank in a region of said shoulder.
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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) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |