Patent ID: 6599310
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for joining and holding closed a wound in bodily tissue to allow tissue healing and regrowth together of sides or faces of the wound, or reconfiguration in vivo, using a barbed suture including an elongated body, first and second sharp pointed distal ends for penetrating the tissue, and a plurality of barbs extending from the periphery of the body, the barbs on a first portion of the body between the first end of the suture and a first axial location on the body for permitting movement of the suture through the tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the suture relative to the tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the first end, and the barbs on a second portion of the body between the second end of the suture and a second axial location on the body which is less than the distance from the second end to the first axial location permitting movement of the suture through the tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the suture relative to the tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second end, the method comprising the steps of:(a) inserting the first pointed end of the suture into the tissue at a first side of the wound; (b) pushing the first end of the suture through the tissue until the first end of the suture extends out of the tissue at an exit point in the face of the wound below the surface of the tissue at the first side of the wound; (c) gripping the first end of the suture and pulling the first end out of the tissue for drawing the first portion of the suture through the tissue until the second axial location is at the point of insertion of the first end of the suture and leaving a length of the first portion of the suture in the tissue between the point of insertion in the first side of the wound and the exit point in the face of the wound at the first side of the wound; (d) inserting the first end of the suture into the face of the tissue below the surface of the tissue at a second side of the wound; (e) pushing the first end of the suture through the tissue until the first end of the suture extends out of the tissue at an exit point on the second side of the wound longitudinally spaced in a first direction from the insertion point in the first side of the wound; (f) gripping the first end of the suture and pulling the first end 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 and leaving a length of the first portion of the suture in the tissue between the point of insertion in the first side of the wound and the exit point in the second side of the wound; (g) inserting the second pointed end of the suture into the tissue at one side of the wound; (h) pushing the second end of the suture through the tissue until the second end of the suture extends out of the tissue at an exit point in the face of the tissue below the surface of the tissue at the one side of the wound; (i) gripping the second end of the suture and pulling the second end out of the tissue for drawing the second portion of the suture through the tissue until the second axial location is at the point of insertion of the second end of the suture and leaving a length of the second portion of the suture in the tissue between the point of insertion in the one side of the wound and the exit point in the face of the wound at the one side of the wound; (j) inserting the second end of the suture into the face of the tissue below the surface of the tissue at the other side of the wound; (k) pushing the second end of the suture through the tissue until the second end of the suture extends out of the tissue at 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; and (l) gripping the second end of the suture and pulling the second end out of the tissue for drawing the second portion of the suture through the tissue while bringing the sides of the wound together to the closed position along the second portion of the suture in the tissue and leaving a length of the second portion of the suture in the tissue between the point of insertion in the one side of the wound and the exit point in the other side of the wound.