Joining element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12268384-B2
Application number	US-202217932038-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2022
Priority date	May 4, 2005
Publication date	Apr 8, 2025
Grant date	Apr 8, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed is a joining element ( 10 ), especially a suture material for surgical use. The joining element ( 10 ) is composed of a first material ( 12 ) that is essentially rigid during impingement by a relatively short-lasting tensile load on opposite sides as well as a second material ( 11 ) which is connected to the first material. The second material is substantially rigid during impingement by said tensile load on opposite sides while contracting slowly during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A joining element elongate along a longitudinal direction, comprising:
an inner core that extends substantially along the longitudinal direction, the inner core comprising swellable silicone and an osmotically active substance; and
a jacket surrounding at least a portion of the inner core along the longitudinal direction and defining a length in the longitudinal direction between opposed ends of the jacket, the jacket comprising polyester threads and defining at least one angle relative to the longitudinal direction,
wherein upon exposure of fluid to the osmotically active substance, the osmotically active substance causes the swellable silicone to swell so that the inner core swells against the jacket along a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to thereby increase the at least one angle and decrease the length of the jacket along the longitudinal direction.

2. The joining element according to claim 1 , wherein the osmotically active substance is incorporated in an isotropic distribution in the swellable silicone.

3. The joining element of claim 1 , wherein the osmotically active substance has a variable distribution density within the swellable silicone.

4. The joining element according to claim 1 , wherein the osmotically active substance comprises a salt.

5. The joining element according to claim 4 , wherein the salt comprises a chloride salt, a carbonate salt, a phosphate salt, or a combination thereof.

6. The joining element according to claim 1 , further comprising a membrane surrounding the inner core and interposed between the inner core and the jacket.

7. The joining element according to claim 6 , wherein the membrane comprises an elastomeric material.

8. The joining element according to claim 1 , wherein the jacket further comprises polyolefin.

9. The joining element of claim 1 , wherein the jacket comprises a braided mesh.

10. The joining element according to claim 1 , wherein the inner core further comprises an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

11. The joining element according to claim 10 , wherein the swelling of the silicone drives at least some of the active pharmaceutical ingredient out of the inner core, thereby delivering at least some of the active pharmaceutical ingredient to an ambient environment outside of the joining element.

12. The joining element according to claim 10 , wherein the active pharmaceutical ingredient comprises an antimicrobial agent.

13. The joining element according to claim 1 , wherein the joining element has a substantially circular cross-section.

14. A method for joining a first member and a second member together comprising:
attaching the first material to a first end of the joining element according to claim 1 and the second member to a second end of the joining element, the second end is opposed to the first end and spaced a distance therefrom along the longitudinal direction;
placing the joining element in an environment so as to expose the inner core to the fluid to swell the inner core.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the first member, the second member, or both comprises a prosthetic material, a body tissue, a suture anchor, or a technical object.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein placing the joining element in an environment comprises placing the joining element in an aqueous environment.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein placing the joining element in an environment comprises placing the joining element in vivo within a subject.

18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein swelling of the inner core is in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

19. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the attaching step comprises applying tension to the inner core.

20. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the swelling causes the length of the joining element to contract in the longitudinal direction by up to 80%.

21. A method for inducing tension between a first member and a second member comprising:
swelling the inner core of the joining element according to claim 1 , wherein the joining element has a first end attached to the first member and a second end attached to a second member, the first and second ends opposed along the longitudinal direction, and
increasing the angle, so as to cause contracting of the joining element along the longitudinal direction.

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Mayer Joerg
• Ganz Jochen
• Keller Beat
• Hertel Ralph

Classifications

• A61B17/04 Primary

  for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials · CPC title

• A61L17/005

  containing a biologically active substance, e.g. a medicament or a biocide · CPC title

• B29C61/0608

  characterised by the configuration or structure of the preforms · CPC title

• A61L17/00 Primary

  Materials for surgical sutures or for ligaturing blood vessels (surgical adhesives A61L24/00; surgical instruments, devices or methods for suturing or ligaturing A61B17/04, A61B17/12; supports or packages for suture materials A61B17/04); {Materials for prostheses or catheters (bone cements or surgical adhesives for soft body tissues A61L24/00; shape or structure of prostheses A61F2/00; shape or structure of catheters A61M5/00)} · CPC title

• A61B17/06166 Primary

  Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M) · CPC title