Patent US5139514A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5139514A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Combined needle-suture device
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
•
Filing: 1991-10-07
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Granted: 1992-08-18
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Expires: 2011-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A suture is attached to a surgical needle possessing a shank of reduced diameter the butt end of which is rounded. Attachment is accomplished by means of a shrinkable tubing which is fitted about the shank of the needle and an end of the suture, application of heat to the tubing effecting its shrinkage with consequent secure attachment of the needle to the suture. Rounding of the butt end of the needle shank minimizes the possibility that during use, the needle will protrude or rip through the tubing or otherwise compromise the security of the attachment of the needle to the suture.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert W. Korthoff
- 👤 Richard N. Granger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06004; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A combined surgical needle-suture device which comprises: a) a needle having a shank of reduced cross-section, the butt end of the shank being rounded; b) a suture; and, c) a shrinkable tubing around said needle shank and a portion of said suture to couple the same without swaging or crimping.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
A combined surgical needle-suture device which comprises: a) a needle having a shank of reduced cross-section, the butt end of the shank being rounded; b) a suture; and, c) a shrinkable tubing around said needle shank and a portion of said suture to couple the same without swaging or crimping.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the butt end of the needle defines a circle and the radius of curvature of the rounded section of the shank is substantially that of the radius of said circle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 2 wherein the radius of curvature of the rounded section of the shank is at least about 50% of the radius of the circle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 2 wherein the radius of curvature of the rounded section of the shank is at least about 20% of the radius of the circle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said suture is a non-absorbable material selected from the group consisting of silk, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, linen and cotton.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 5 wherein said suture is a braided multifilament.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said suture is an absorbable material selected from the group consisting of catgut and synthetic materials including polymers and copolymers of glycolic and lactic acids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 7 wherein said suture is a braided multifilament.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said suture portion is tipped with an adhesive or resinous coating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 9 wherein said suture portion is of reduced cross-section as compared to the remainder of the suture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said shrinkable tubing is manufactured from a shrinkable plastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 11 wherein said shrinkable plastic material is a polyvinylidene fluoride or polyethylene material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said shrinkable tubing is color-coded to correspond to the suture material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein the pull-out force for said device is as defined for standard needle attachment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein in the pull-out force for said device is as defined for removable or detachable needle attachment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said device is atraumatic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said device is flexible in the region of said shrinkable tubing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said reduced diameter shank is texturized.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 18 wherein said shank is ribbed, scored or tapered, in whole or in part.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said reduced diameter shank and said suture portion abut within said shrinkable tubing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said shrinkable tubing compresses said suture portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 21 wherein said tubing compresses said suture portion by as much as 35%.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein said shank of reduced cross-section has a diameter that is 35% to 90% the diameter of said needle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1 wherein the shank is provided with a texturized surface to facilitate gripping by said shrinkable tubing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 24, wherein the shank is scored, ribbed or threaded in whole or in part.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 1, wherein the shank of reduced cross-section forms a shoulder with a remainder of said needle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 26, wherein said shank is tapered in a direction toward 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 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combined surgical needle-suture device of claim 26, wherein said shank is tapered in a direction away from 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.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for attaching a surgical needle to a suture comprising: a) providing a needle having a shank of reduced cross-section, the butt end of the shank being rounded; b) placing a shrinkable tubing around the reduced diameter needle shank and the suture; and, c) applying energy to the shrinkable tubing to bring the tubing into engagement with the needle shank and the suture.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for attaching a surgical needle to a suture comprising: a) providing a needle having a shank of reduced cross-section, the butt end of the shank being rounded; b) placing a shrinkable tubing around the reduced diameter needle shank and the suture; and, c) applying energy to the shrinkable tubing to bring the tubing into engagement with the needle shank and the suture.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the cross-section of the butt end of the needle defines a circle and the radius of curvature of the rounded section of the shank is substantially that of the radius of said circle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the radius of curvature of the rounded section of the shank is at least about 50% of the radius of the circle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the radius of curvature of the rounded section of the shank is at least about 20% of the radius of the circle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 29 said needle is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of Series 300 stainless steels, Series 400 stainless steels and MP35N.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said reduced diameter shank is produced by machining said needle.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said shank is texturized.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said shank is ribbed, scored or tapered, in whole or in part.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said shrinkable tubing is manufactured from a shrinkable plastic material.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said shrinkable plastic material is a polyvinylidene fluoride or polyethylene material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said shrinkable tubing is adapted to shrink to an inner diameter as low as 50% of its original inner diameter when placed on the needle shank and suture.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said shrinkable tubing is placed over the tip region of said suture and said tip region is tipped with an adhesive or resinous coating.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 40 wherein said tipped region is of reduced cross-section as compared to the untipped region of said suture.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said applied energy is convective or conductive heat, radiation or microwave energy.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said energy application is controlled to produce a needle that is detachably attached to said suture.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said shrinkable tubing is sequentially placed around the needle shank and the suture and wherein energy is applied to the shrinkable tubing after each sequential placement.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 44 wherein said shrinkable tubing is first placed around said needle shank.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said shrinkable tubing compresses said suture upon engagement therewith.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 46 wherein said shrinkable tubing compresses said suture by as much as 35%.
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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) | 1995-08-18 | 1996-02-17 | 1996-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-18 | 2000-02-17 | 2000-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-18 | 2004-02-17 | 2004-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |