Variable Denier Yarn And Suture
Patent No. US11849938 (titled "Variable Denier Yarn And Suture") was filed by Cfip2 Strr Llc on Mar 31, 2022.
What is this patent about?
’938 is related to the field of surgical sutures, specifically addressing the challenge of achieving both easy passage through small openings and secure locking within those openings. Traditional sutures often compromise between a small diameter for easy threading and a larger diameter for better tissue grip and locking strength. This is particularly relevant in minimally invasive procedures where suture locks with small openings are used.
The underlying idea behind ’938 is to create a suture with variable denier , meaning it has different thicknesses along its length. A thinner segment facilitates easy threading through small openings in surgical instruments or suture locks, while a thicker segment provides improved tissue purchase and a more secure fit within the locking mechanism. This variable thickness is achieved by varying the number of strands in the suture along its length.
The claims of ’938 focus on methods of suturing using a variable denier suture. Specifically, the independent claims cover the steps of threading a thinner segment of the suture through a loop, pulling the loop and the doubled-over thinner segment through an opening (e.g., in a suture lock), and then continuing to pull until a thicker segment extends through the opening. The thicker segment fills the opening more completely , providing a more secure lock.
In practice, the invention involves manufacturing a suture with distinct segments of varying thickness. This can be achieved through braiding techniques where additional strands are added or terminated at specific points along the suture's length. The thinner segment is designed to be easily folded over and pulled through a small opening, while the thicker segment is designed to maximize contact and friction within the opening, enhancing the locking force. The continuous braid ensures a smooth transition and prevents snagging.
The key differentiation from prior approaches lies in the deliberate and controlled variation of denier along the suture's length. Unlike traditional sutures with a uniform diameter, ’938 optimizes both threading and locking performance. The use of a traction loop further simplifies the threading process, and the design ensures that the doubled-over thinner segment has a smaller effective diameter than the thicker segment, facilitating smooth passage through the opening before the locking segment is engaged.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’938 was filed, suturing techniques often required small-diameter sutures to fit through surgical instruments or implants. At a time when suture locks were typically implemented using static compression or force multiplier mechanisms, backlash and loosening were common problems. When hardware or software constraints made the reliable contact between suture and lock non-trivial, elastic biasing mechanisms were needed to ensure locking.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because the prior art, specifically Foerster US 6296659, discloses a method of suturing with a first and second segment inserted through a traction loop and suture lock. However, Foerster, along with other prior art, fails to disclose a first end segment comprising braided strands, a second segment with a tubular braid continuous with the first, more strands in the second segment for greater denier, the second segment having at least twice the denier of the first, at least a portion of the second strands braided to form an outer layer, and a transition zone with distal ends of the second strands.
Claims
This patent contains 33 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 23, 32, and 33. The independent claims generally focus on methods of suturing using a suture with varying denier segments and specific braiding configurations. The dependent claims elaborate on and refine the methods described in the independent claims, adding details regarding the filling of openings, the use of surgical instruments and implants, suture lock mechanisms, braid structures, and denier transitions.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11849938
- Application Number
- US17710780
- Filing Date
- Mar 31, 2022
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Mar 23, 2032
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents