Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110004120 | BIOPSY DEVICE NEEDLE SET - A needle set for use in a biopsy device, where the needle set includes a plurality of annularly nested cannulae. Each of the cannulae have a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen, and a cannula body. At least two of the cannulae are joined at their proximal ends. The distal ends of the two joined cannulae are mountable in a biopsy device. At least one of the two joined cannulae further have at least two flexible linkages joining the cannula body to its proximal end. Upon rotating the cannula body around its longitudinal axis while fixing the proximal end, the linkages present therebetween will contact one another, effectively cutting the luminal space between the cannula body and the proximal end of the cannula, thereby also cutting any material, for example biopsy material, present in the lumen. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004121 | BIOPSY DEVICE HANDLE - A biopsy device handle for use with a biopsy device needle set, comprising a housing, a throw depth selection assembly, a cocking assembly, a carriage assembly, a needle set driver assembly, and an actuating assembly. A safety feature may be incorporated into the device to reduce or eliminate the chance of unintentional firing of the biopsy device. | 01-06-2011 |
20110046668 | SELF-RETAINING SUTURES WITH HEAT-CONTACT MEDIATED RETAINERS - Provided herein are sutures to be used in a procedure applied to tissue, and methods for forming such sutures. A suture can include an elongated suture body and a plurality of heat-contact mediated retainers extending from and along the elongated suture body. The heat-contact mediated retainers can be formed by temporarily contacting the elongated suture body with one or more heated element. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046669 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING RETAINERS ON SELF-RETAINING SUTURES - A method and device to elevate retainers on a suture thread to a desired angle such that the retainers can retain the desired elevation. The retainers can be elevated using an apparatus having at least one roller and at least one bending bar, wherein the bending bar contacts the retainers adjacent to the at least one roller to apply a force to the retainers. The retainers can also be elevated using a tube-shaped apparatus which allows the retainers on a suture thread to be bent by the inner surface of the tube-shaped apparatus. In various embodiments of the invention, a suture can be made up of an inner core and a coating that upon a stimuli increases the protrusion of the retainers away from the suture core thereby ensuring that the suture is held securely in place, preventing wound separation and dehiscence. In an embodiment of the invention, the application of the coating to the outer face of the retainer and attractive forces between the coating at different points results in the distension of the retainers away from the suture core. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the coating inserts into the cut associated with the retainer and repulsive or expansive forces result in a pushing out of the cut and thereby the distending of the retainers away from the suture core. | 02-24-2011 |
20110166597 | SELF-RETAINING SUTURES INCLUDING TISSUE RETAINERS HAVING IMPROVED STRENGTH - An embodiment of a suture for use in a surgical procedure applied to tissue comprises an elongated body having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of retainers arranged along a portion of the elongated body. The retainers substantially yield to motion of the elongated body within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the first end and resist motion of the elongated within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the second end. The retainers include an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface extending from a periphery of the elongated body and the lower surface having at least two facets. | 07-07-2011 |
20110288583 | SELF-RETAINING SUTURES WITH BI-DIRECTIONAL RETAINERS OR UNI-DIRECTIONAL RETAINERS - Provided herein are sutures for use in a procedure applied to tissue, and methods for forming such sutures. Some sutures include bi-directional retainers, each of which can be deployed in two directions, but once deployed in one direction, resist motion in the opposite direction. Other sutures include uni-directional retainers that are conical in shape, and include tissue engaging protrusions that extend from edges and/or angled walls of the conical retainers. | 11-24-2011 |
20120245629 | SELF-RETAINING VARIABLE LOOP SUTURES - A suture having a first end for penetrating tissue, an elongated suture body having a periphery; a plurality of retainers on the periphery, and a second end having a variable loop of variable circumference, wherein the variable loop includes a fixed loop slidably engaging the elongated body for slidingly varying the circumference of the variable loop, and wherein the first end may pass through the variable loop to secure tissue as an anchor, the anchor preventing movement of the suture in the direction of deployment of the first end. | 09-27-2012 |
20130180966 | LASER CUTTING SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CREATING SELF-RETAINING SUTURES - A laser-machining system and method is disclosed for forming retainers on a suture thread. The laser system is preferably a femtosecond laser system which is capable of creating submicron features on the suture thread while preserving strength of the suture thread. The laser-machining system enables creation of retainers and self-retaining suture systems in configurations which are difficult and/or impossible to achieve using mechanical cutting technology. | 07-18-2013 |
20130238021 | High-Density Self-Retaining Sutures, Manufacturing Equipment and Methods - A self-retaining suture has a suture thread less than 1 millimeter nominal diameter. A plurality of retainers is cut into the suture thread using a high accuracy retainer cutting machine. The retainer cutting machine has sufficient accuracy and repeatability to cut consistent and effective retainers at high density on suture threads less than 1 mm nominal diameter. | 09-12-2013 |
20130238022 | Self-Retaining Systems Having Laser-Cut Retainers - Self-retaining suture systems including a suture thread bearing a plurality of laser-cut retainers are disclosed. A laser system allows the creation of retainers and self-retaining suture systems in configurations which are difficult and/or impossible to achieve using mechanical cutting technology. | 09-12-2013 |
20130317545 | DRUG-ELUTING SELF-RETAINING SUTURES AND METHODS RELATING THERETO - A drug-eluting self-retaining suture comprises a filament, a plurality of retainers, and a drug impregnated in or coated on the filament. The shape and distribution of retainers modifies the in vivo release kinetics of the drug. The drug release kinetics may be modified uniformly or region by region. The self-retaining suture may for example be used for reattaching severed nerves and release nerve growth factor or other regeneration accelerating agents into the region of the nerve injury. | 11-28-2013 |
20140039527 | SUTURE DELIVERY TOOLS FOR ENDOSCOPIC AND ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGERY AND METHODS - A suture delivery tool releasably secures a self-retaining suture to permit delivery of the self-retaining suture to a surgical site in a patient through an access port. Suture delivery tools are disclosed suitable for manual operation and operation using robotically-assisted surgical systems. In some embodiments, a suture spool is part of a cartridge which is releasably attached to the suture delivery tool. Cartridges is, in some embodiments, replaced after deployment of the self-retaining suture and different cartridges having different self-retaining suture are, in some embodiments, selected and attached to the suture delivery tool as required for a procedure. | 02-06-2014 |