Method of forming barbs on a suture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527221-B2
Application number	US-201414254272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2014
Priority date	Sep 17, 2007
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A method is provided for forming a barbed medical device which includes the steps of providing a blank workpiece and forming at least one barb on the blank workpiece by applying vibrational energy to a tool and bringing the tool and the blank workpiece into contact with each other at an angle such that the tool cuts into the surface of the blank workpiece. A barbed medical device formed by this method is also provided.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for forming a barbed suture comprising:
a tool;
a converter operably connected to the tool for transmitting ultrasonic energy to the tool;
a gripper for supporting a suture relative to the tool; and
a motorized slide for moving the gripper in X, Y, and Z planes relative to the tool from a first position in which the gripper is laterally spaced from the tool to a second position in which the gripper is positioned adjacent the tool such that the suture contacts the tool.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tool includes a horn.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the converter transmits ultrasonic energy to the horn.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tool includes a blade secured to the horn.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the blade is one of a knife blade and a rotary blade.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a frequency of the ultrasonic energy transmitted to the horn is between about 1 kHz and about 100 kHz.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a signal amplitude of the ultrasonic energy transmitted to the horn is between about 1μ and 125μ.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a camera and a light source for optimizing a view of the camera.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a rotation motor for rotating a suture relative to the tool.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gripper includes an anvil.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an advance slide for moving a suture parallel to the tool.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an ultrasonic generator for supplying ultrasonic energy to the convertor.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the converter converts electrical energy from the ultrasonic generator to mechanical energy.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Maiorino Nicholas
• Buchter Mark S
• Cohen Matthew D
• Primavera Michael
• Kosa Timothy D

Classifications

• Y10T29/49

  Method of mechanical manufacture · CPC title

• A61B2017/00526

  Methods of manufacturing · CPC title

• A61B17/06166

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

• A61B2017/06176

  with protrusions, e.g. barbs · CPC title

• B26D3/08 Primary

  Making a superficial cut in the surface of the work without removal of material, e.g. scoring, incising · CPC title