Suture for wound closure, tissue approximation, tissue support, suspension and/or fixation

Abstract

A suture assembly includes an elongated flexible body which may be either a single filament for a multiple strand braided or woven body, supporting a plurality of shaped tissue-engaging elements in a generally spaced arrangement thereon. A curved body having a sharp point is joined to one end of the flexible body while a straight pointed body is joined to the remaining end of the flexible body. In alternate embodiments, the tissue-engaging elements define a variety of cross-section shapes. In a further alternate embodiment, the tissue-engaging elements are divided into first and second oppositely facing sets to provide a bidirectional suture. In a still further alternate embodiment, the elongated flexible body supports an elongated tissue-bonding sleeve.

1 . A suture comprising: an elongated flexible body having first and second ends; a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements received upon said elongated flexible body; and a plurality of knots tied in said elongated flexible body each larger than said bore, said knots maintaining said tissue-engaging elements in a serial arrangement on said elongated flexible body. 
   
   
       2 . The suture set forth in  claim 1  wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define a narrow end and a broad end. 
   
   
       3 . The suture set forth in  claim 2  wherein said tissue-engaging elements are each generally frusto-conical in shape. 
   
   
       4 . The suture set forth in  claim 3  wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define an open end. 
   
   
       5 . The suture set forth in  claim 4  further including: a curved end having a sharp pointed end and a connector end joined to said first end of said elongated flexible body; and an elongated body having a pointed end and a connector end joined to said second end of said elongated flexible body. 
   
   
       6 . A suture assembly comprising: an elongated needle body having a first pointed end and a first connector end; a curved needle body having a second pointed end and a second connector end; an elongated filament having a first end joined to said first connector end, a second end joined to said second connector end, and a plurality of knots formed in said filament; and a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements being received upon said filament by passing said filament through said bores with each tissue-engaging element being proximate one of said knots. 
   
   
       7 . The suture assembly set forth in  claim 6  wherein said tissue-engaging elements are generally frusto-conical. 
   
   
       8 . The suture assembly set forth in  claim 7  wherein said tissue-engaging elements define generally circular cross-sections. 
   
   
       9 . The suture assembly set forth in  claim 7  wherein said tissue-engaging elements define generally elliptical cross-sections. 
   
   
       10 . A suture comprising: an elongated flexible body formed of a braided or woven multiple stranded member having first and second ends; a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements received upon said elongated flexible body; and a plurality of knots tied in said elongated flexible body each larger than said bore said knots maintaining said tissue-engaging elements in a serial arrangement on said elongated flexible body. 
   
   
       11 . The suture set forth in  claim 10  wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define a narrow end and a broad end. 
   
   
       12 . The suture set forth in  claim 11  wherein said tissue-engaging elements are each generally frusto-conical in shape. 
   
   
       13 . The suture set forth in  claim 12  wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define an open end. 
   
   
       14 . The suture set forth in  claim 13  further including: a curved end having a sharp pointed end and a connector end joined to said first end of said elongated flexible body; and an elongated body having a pointed end and a connector end joined to said second end of said elongated flexible body. 
   
   
       15 . A suture assembly comprising: an elongated needle body having a first pointed end and a first connector end; a curved needle body having a second pointed end and a second connector end; an elongated flexible body formed of a multiple strand braided or woven member having a first end joined to said first connector end, a second end joined to said second connector end, and a plurality of knots formed in said filament; and a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements being received upon said elongated flexible body by passing said elongated flexible body through said bores with each tissue-engaging element being proximate one of said knots. 
   
   
       16 . The suture assembly set forth in  claim 15  wherein said tissue-engaging elements are generally frusto-conical. 
   
   
       17 . The suture assembly set forth in  claim 16  wherein said tissue-engaging elements define generally circular cross-sections. 
   
   
       18 . The suture assembly set forth in  claim 16  wherein said tissue-engaging elements define generally elliptical cross-sections. 
   
   
       19 . A suture comprising: an elongated flexible body formed of a braided or woven multiple stranded member having first and second ends; a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements received upon said elongated flexible body to form two spaced-apart groups having a space therebetween; a plurality of knots tied in said elongated flexible body each larger than said bore, said knots maintaining said tissue-engaging elements in grouped serial arrangements on said elongated flexible body; and an elongated flexible sleeve formed of a porous material and supported upon said elongated flexible body between said groups of tissue-engaging elements. 
   
   
       20 . The suture set forth in  claim 19  wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define a narrow end and a broad end and wherein said elongated flexible sleeve is positioned by a knot on each side of said elongated flexible sleeve. 
   
   
       21 . The suture set forth in  claim 20  wherein said tissue-engaging elements are each generally frusto-conical in shape. 
   
   
       22 . The suture set forth in  claim 21  wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define an open end. 
   
   
       23 . A suture comprising: an elongated flexible body formed of a braided or woven multiple stranded member having first and second ends; a plurality of tissue-engaging elements each defining a bore therethrough, said tissue-engaging elements received upon said elongated flexible body forming at least two spaced-apart groups; a plurality of positioning elements in said elongated flexible body each larger than said bore, said positioning elements maintaining said tissue-engaging elements in a serial arrangement on said elongated flexible body; and an elongated flexible porous sleeve supported upon said elongated flexible body between said groups positioned by a pair of said positioning elements. 
   
   
       24 . The suture set forth in  claim 23  wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define a narrow end and a broad end. 
   
   
       25 . The suture set forth in  claim 24  wherein said tissue-engaging elements are each generally frusto-conical in shape. 
   
   
       26 . The suture set forth in  claim 25  wherein said tissue-engaging elements each define an open end.