Abstract: A method for manufacturing self-retaining suture is disclosed. The method provides for creating and supporting a suture during cutting of tissue-grasping elements at different angular positions. A cutting device is moved through the suture thread along a path which can include longitudinal, transverse, oscillating and depth components to create a desired tissue-grasping element on the surface of the suture. The path of the cutting device and the rotation of the suture relative to the cutting device are controlled so that a plurality of angularly-displaced tissue-grasping elements can be created on the suture.

Abstract: A barbed suture for connecting tissue, and a combination surgical needle with a barbed suture. The suture includes an elongated body and a plurality of barbs projecting from the body. Each barb causes the suture to resist movement in an opposite direction from which the barb faces. The disposition of the barbs on the body may be staggered, twist cut multiple spiral, overlapping, or random. Also, the configuration of the barbs may be a certain spirality angle ?, barb cut angle ?, barb cut depth, barb cut length, barb cut distance, corrugated barb underside, arcuate barb base, or varying barb size.

Abstract: A suture anchor is provided for approximating tissue to bone or other tissue. The suture anchor comprises an anchor member to fixedly engage the bone for securing the anchor member relative to the bone. A plurality of sutures are mounted to the proximal end of the anchor member so that the sutures extend outwardly from the anchor member. Each suture has a sharp pointed distal end for penetrating the tissue and a plurality of barbs extending from the periphery and disposed along the length of the body of the suture. The barbs permit movement of the sutures through the tissue in a direction of movement of the pointed end and prevent movement of the sutures relative to the tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the pointed end. At least one pointed distal end of at least one suture comprises a needle.

Abstract: A barbed bodily tissue connector for insertion into tissue comprises an elongated body having a substantially polygonal periphery in cross-section including at least three sides. Each side meets an adjacent side at an edge of the elongated body. A plurality of barbs project from the edges of the body. The barbs are configured such that they are yieldable in a direction toward the body and resist retraction from tissue in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A suture anchor for approximating tissue to bone comprises an anchor member for securing the suture anchor to the bone and a plurality of sutures mounted to the anchor member so that the sutures extend outwardly from the anchor member. Each suture has a sharp pointed end for penetrating the tissue and a plurality of barbs which permit movement of the sutures through the tissue in one direction of movement of the pointed end and prevent movement of the sutures relative to the tissue in the opposite direction. The ends of the sutures are inserted and pushed through the tissue along a curvilinear path in a direction away from the bone. The sutures are drawn from exit points longitudinally spaced from the points of insertion and reinserted and advanced along a curvilinear path in the direction away from the bone. The sutures are drawn through the tissue while approximating the tissue adjacent the bone along the suture and leaving a length of the sutures in the tissue.

Abstract: A barbed tissue connector is disclosed for use in closing a body wound. The connector includes an elongated body and a pointed end to facilitate insertion of the connector into tissue. A plurality of closely-spaced barbs are disposed on the body from the pointed end of the connector to a predetermined location on the body. The barbs are yieldable toward the body to make it easier to insert the connector in tissue, and the barbs are generally rigid in an opposite direction to hold the connector in the tissue. The body of the connector is substantially rigid and is sufficiently resilient to return to a predetermined position after deflection therefrom. The connector can be manually inserted into the tissue of a patient, or the connector can be inserted by means of an inserting device which is retracted after the connector is in place.

Abstract: A method of making a barbed suture by varying the blade geometry and/or the movement of the blade when cutting a suture is disclosed. The method can also be accomplished with a cutting device to create a plurality of barbs on the exterior of surgical suture. The barbs produced using the method with the cutting device can be the same or random configurations.

Abstract: A method for joining and holding closed a wound in bodily tissue, fastening junctions of wounds, tying off wounds, joining a foreign element to tissue, and altering the position of tissue using a barbed suture including sharp pointed ends. Each end of the suture includes barbs on that permit movement in an opposing direction to the barbs on the other end of the suture. This two-way barbed suture is used by the method of the present invention in applications including abdominal surgeries such as a Nissen fundoplication, laparoscopic uses such as stabilizing a bowel structure and performing a closure of a cystostomy, liver to bowel anastomosis, closure of an orifice of a Zenker's Diverticulum, endoscopic uses such as closure of ulcerative lesions or and post-procedural tissue defects, bladder wound closure, valve replacement surgery, device attachment, cosmetic surgery, and blood vessel wound closure.

Abstract: A method of making a barbed suture by varying the blade geometry and/or the movement of the blade when cutting a suture. The method can also be accomplished with a cutting device to create a plurality of barbs on the exterior of surgical suture. The barbs produced using the method with the cutting device can be the same or random configurations.

Abstract: A suture anchor for approximating tissue to bone comprises an anchor member for securing the suture anchor to the bone and a plurality of sutures mounted to the anchor member so that the sutures extend outwardly from the anchor member. Each suture has a sharp pointed end for penetrating the tissue and a plurality of barbs which permit movement of the sutures through the tissue in one direction of movement of the pointed end and prevent movement of the sutures relative to the tissue in the opposite direction. The ends of the sutures are inserted and pushed through the tissue along a curvilinear path in a direction away from the bone. The sutures are drawn from exit points longitudinally spaced from the points of insertion and reinserted and advanced along a curvilinear path in the direction away from the bone. The sutures are drawn through the tissue while approximating the tissue adjacent the bone along the suture and leaving a length of the sutures in the tissue.

Abstract: A method is provided for joining and holding closed a wound in bodily tissue using a barbed suture including sharp pointed ends. The pointed end of the suture is inserted on a first side of the wound and pushed through the faces of the wound to an exit point on the second side of the wound that is longitudinally spaced in a first direction from the insertion point in the first side of the wound. The first end of the suture is pulled out of the tissue for drawing the first portion of the suture through the tissue while bringing the two sides of the wound together to a closed position along the first portion of the suture in the tissue. The second pointed end of the suture is inserted into the tissue at one side of the wound and pushed through the faces of the wound to an exit point on the other side of the wound longitudinally spaced in a second direction from the point of insertion of the second end of the suture at the one side of the wound.

Abstract: A barbed tissue connector is disclosed for use in closing a body wound. The connector includes an elongated body and a pointed end to facilitate insertion of the connector into tissue. A plurality of closely-spaced barbs are disposed on the body from the pointed end of the connector to a predetermined location on the body. The barbs are yieldable toward the body to make it easier to insert the connector in tissue, and the barbs are generally rigid in an opposite direction to hold the connector in the tissue. The body of the connector is substantially rigid and is sufficiently resilient to return to a predetermined position after deflection therefrom. The connector can be manually inserted into the tissue of a patient, or the connector can be inserted by means of an inserting device which is retracted after the connector is in place.