US5269808A — Method and apparatus for tipping sutures

Claim 1

Independent Claim 77 words

A method for tipping multifilament surgical sutures comprising: a) winding at least one suture around a means for holding said suture, said suture holding means including means to delimit at least one selected portion of said suture; b) generating a mist of tipping agent, wherein said tipping agent comprises a monomeric cyanoacrylate; and c) passing only the selected portion of the suture through said mist of tipping agent to apply said tipping agent to said selected portion.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 77 words

A method for tipping multifilament surgical sutures comprising: a) winding at least one suture around a means for holding said suture, said suture holding means including means to delimit at least one selected portion of said suture; b) generating a mist of tipping agent, wherein said tipping agent comprises a monomeric cyanoacrylate; and c) passing only the selected portion of the suture through said mist of tipping agent to apply said tipping agent to said selected portion.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said monomeric cyanoacrylate tipping agent is capable of curing to form an adhesive bond and wherein said method further comprises the step: (d) curing the monomeric cyanoacrylate by polymerization on the suture to adhesively bond the filaments of the suture to one another to create said tipped portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said method further comprises the step: (e) cutting said suture from said suture holding means to form at least one tipped end of the suture.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said monomeric cyanoacrylate is ethyl cyanoacrylate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating a mist comprises generating a mist of monomeric cyanoacrylate by sonic or ultrasonic means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said suture holding means comprises a drum.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 6 further comprising continuously measuring the diameter of the suture in x and y directions prior to winding said suture on a drum, and adjusting the tension on the suture to control the diameter of the suture during winding.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 7 wherein said measuring is accomplished by laser micrometer means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 6 further including cutting said selected portion of the suture after tipping to create at least one tipped nd of the suture.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 69 words

A method for tipping multifilament surgical sutures comprising: winding at least one suture around a drum, said drum having means for delimiting one selected portion of said suture; applying cyanoacrylate monomer to said selected portion of the suture; and curing said cyanoacrylate monomer to adhesively bond the filaments of the suture; and, cutting said selected portion of said suture to form at least one tipped end of the suture.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 69 words

A method for tipping multifilament surgical sutures comprising: winding at least one suture around a drum, said drum having means for delimiting one selected portion of said suture; applying cyanoacrylate monomer to said selected portion of the suture; and curing said cyanoacrylate monomer to adhesively bond the filaments of the suture; and, cutting said selected portion of said suture to form at least one tipped end of the suture.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 10 further comprising joining said tipped end to a surgical needle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said suture is a coated suture.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said suture is a filled suture.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 56 words

A method for tipping multifilament surgical sutures comprising: winding the suture around a drum; continuously measuring the diameter of the suture in X and Y directions, and adjusting the tension on the suture to control the diameter of the suture during winding; and passing a selected portion of the suture through a mist of tipping agent.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 56 words

A method for tipping multifilament surgical sutures comprising: winding the suture around a drum; continuously measuring the diameter of the suture in X and Y directions, and adjusting the tension on the suture to control the diameter of the suture during winding; and passing a selected portion of the suture through a mist of tipping agent.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said measuring is accomplished by laser micrometer means.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 70 words

A method for tipping a suture comprising: a) providing at least one multifilament synthetic bioabsorbable surgical suture; b) winding said suture around a means for holding said suture; c) selecting at least one portion of the suture to be tipped; d) generating a mist of monomeric cyanoacrylate tipping agent; and e) passing said suture laterally through said mist of tipping agent for tipping only said selected portion(s) of the suture.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 70 words

A method for tipping a suture comprising: a) providing at least one multifilament synthetic bioabsorbable surgical suture; b) winding said suture around a means for holding said suture; c) selecting at least one portion of the suture to be tipped; d) generating a mist of monomeric cyanoacrylate tipping agent; and e) passing said suture laterally through said mist of tipping agent for tipping only said selected portion(s) of the suture.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said multifilament synthetic absorbable suture is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of polymers of glycolide, lactide, dioxanone, caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, and physical and chemical combinations thereof.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said suture is coated with a coating material prior to being tipped.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 148 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said coating material is a bioabsorbable coating composition obtained by copolymerizing (i) a polyether glycol corresponding to the general formula HO(RO) n H wherein R is an alkylene group of from 2-4 carbon atoms and n is an integer of from about 100-350, and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer, corresponding to the general formula H(OCH 2 CH 2 ) x (OC 3 H 6 ) y (OCH 2 CH 2 ) z OH wherein x is an integer of from about 45-90, y is an integer of from about 60-85 and z is an integer of from about 45-90, with (ii) a mixture of lactide monomer and glycolide monomer or a preformed copolymer of lactide and glycolide, 4:1 to about 1:4 and the ratio of lactide to glycolide in (ii) varying from about 65-90 mole percent lactide and 10-35 mole percent glycolide.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said suture is filled with a storage stabilizing amount of a filling agent prior to being tipped.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 20, wherein said filling agent is selected from the group consisting of a water soluble polyhydroxy compound, and ester of water soluble polyhydroxy compound, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 21, wherein said polyhydroxy compound is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol triethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, and sorbitol, and said ester of said polyhydroxy compound is selected from the group consisting of glycerol monoacetate and glycerol diacetate.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 22, wherein said filling agent includes a thickener.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 23, wherein said thickener comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, guar gum, xanthan gum, gelatin, collagen, alkali and alkaline earth metal salts of lactic acid, salts of glycolic acid, salts of 3-hydroxy propanoic acid, and salts of 3-hydroxybutanoic acid.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 91 words

A method for tipping a suture, comprising: a) providing at least one multifilament synthetic bioabsorbable suture; b) coating said suture with a coating agent; c) filling said suture with a filling agent; then d) winding said coated and filled suture around a means for holding said suture; e) selecting at least on portion of the suture to be tipped; f) generating a mist of monomeric cyanoacrylate tipping agent; and g) passing said suture through said mist of tipping agent for tipping only said selected portion(s) of said coated and filled suture.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 91 words

A method for tipping a suture, comprising: a) providing at least one multifilament synthetic bioabsorbable suture; b) coating said suture with a coating agent; c) filling said suture with a filling agent; then d) winding said coated and filled suture around a means for holding said suture; e) selecting at least on portion of the suture to be tipped; f) generating a mist of monomeric cyanoacrylate tipping agent; and g) passing said suture through said mist of tipping agent for tipping only said selected portion(s) of said coated and filled suture.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 158 words

The method of claim 25, wherein said coating material is a bioabsorbable coating composition obtained by copolymerizing (i) a polyether glycol corresponding to the general formula HO(RO) n H wherein R is an alkylene group of from 2-4 carbon atoms and n is an integer of from about 100-350, and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer, corresponding to the general formula H(OCH 2 CH 2 ) x (OC 3 H 6 ) y (OCH 2 CH 2 ) z OH wherein x is an integer of from about 45-90, y is an integer of from about 60-85 and z is an integer of from about 45-90, with (ii) a mixture of lactide monomer and glycolide monomer of a preformed copolymer of lactide and glycolide, the weight ratio of (i) to (ii) ranging from about 4:1 to about 1:4 and the ratio of lactide to glycolide in (ii) varying from about 65-90 mole percent lactide and 10-35 mole percent glycolide.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 25, wherein said filling agent is selected from the group consisting of a water soluble polyhydroxy compound, an ester of a water soluble polyhydroxy compound, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 27, wherein said polyhydroxy compound is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, and sorbitol, and said ester of said polyhydroxy compound is selected from the group consisting of glycerol monoacetate and glycerol diacetate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-12-13	1997-06-14	1997-12-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-12-13	2001-06-14	2001-12-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-12-13	2005-06-14	2005-12-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for tipping sutures

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