Suture cutter and removal means

An inexpensive suture cutter is shown in which the cutting portion is a sharpened edge of a wire-like member one-eighth inch or less in diameter at the cutting portion. This wire-like cutting portion has a blunt end to prevent accidental penetration of the skin as the knife portion of the cutter is slid under the sutures which are then cut as the cutting edge is slid along and underneath the sutures. Prior to cutting a length of adhesive tape is placed on and secured to the sutures to be cut and removed. The edge of the tape is placed adjacent or over the proposed cutting path. The sutures are removed by and when the tape is lifted from the skin after the sutures have been severed by the cutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
With reference to the classification of art as established in the United 
States Patent and Trademark Office the present invention is found in the 
general Class entitled, "Cutlery" (Class 30) and in the subclass 
thereunder entitled, "combined with material holder or disposal" (subclass 
124) and in the subclass entitled, "razors-combined with means to lift 
hair or skin" (subclass 34.2). 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The removal of stitches from incisions is generally performed by a doctor 
and/or medical assistant. The sutures are generally cut and removed by the 
use of special sissors and forceps or tweezers by which the cut suture may 
be grasped and pulled from the healed incision. The present invention has 
for this purpose an apparatus and method which provides an inexpensive 
improvement for the cutting and removal of sutures. The present invention 
contemplates an inexpensive cutter constructed of wire with an end of the 
wire curved and formed to provide a finger gripping and manipulative 
portion. This wire-like suture cutting device is made of low carbon steel. 
This cutter is used with a given length of adhesive gauze or the like. The 
suture cutter and the gauze are both inexpensive and it is proposed and 
contemplated that these will be discarded after use. This wire-like 
cutter, although it has a sharp edge sufficient for cutting several 
sutures, is not contemplated to have a sustaining sharp edge as the cutter 
will be discarded after this one use. 
An attempt to provide a combination suture cutter and remover is found in 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,846 as issued on Apr. 29, 1975 to ALLEN, JR. which 
provides a combination implement for cutting and removing surgical sutures 
consisting of a portion forming a forceps and a longitudinal suture 
cutting element extending between the arms of the forceps an anchored to 
one arm and the bight of the forceps body. This device requires a tweezer 
grasping action to lift and pull the suture. The very low profile cutting 
blade of this application with its immediate severing action is not shown 
in this or other known prior art. The sliding cut employed by this cutter 
minimizes the effort to cut the sutures and the tape used to lift and 
remove the cut sutures is easily manipulated. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention may be summarized at least in part with reference to its 
objects. 
It is an object of this invention to provide a method of suture removal 
which is not only inexpensive and can be performed without assistance by 
the surgeon but is also very rapid. This method is quite convenient for 
both the patient and for the one removing the sutures. It is contemplated 
that the suture cutter be made of small diameter wire and have a short 
portion formed with a small cutting edge and a blunt entering end. This 
cutting portion in use is slid underneath the suture and as the sharp edge 
is slid along a path transverse to the suture the suture is cut. To assist 
in removing the sutures which customarily are pulled from the skin by 
tweezers, forceps and the like it is contemplated that a length of 
adhesive tape or adhesive coated material be placed upon the uncut sutures 
prior to their being cut. As the suture is severed the tape is lifted from 
the skin and with the severed suture adhered to the tape is pulled from 
the skin. After the tape and the attached sutures are removed from the 
skin of the patient the tape and the cutter are discarded. 
The suture cutter, to be hereinafter more fully described, resembles a 
large paper clip with one of the legs of the clip partially pulled from 
the original configuration, this leg portion is formed with a knife-like 
edge. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide, and it does provide, 
an inexpensive suture cutter and removal apparatus which is contemplated 
to have a one time use. A cutter made of wire of one-eighth inch diameter 
or less may be shaped much like a common large paper clip. One of the legs 
of this wire form is formed with a sharp edge and the end is blunt to 
prevent skin penetration at the time of suture cutting. With this cutter 
is provided a length of adhesive tape which is pressed onto the skin and 
sutures before cutting. One end of the tape is then lifted sufficiently 
for the entrance of the cutting portion of the cutter which is slid under 
the suture and then advanced to cut the suture. As the cutter is advanced 
the tape is lifted to enable the sutures to be sequentially cut until all 
are cut after which the tape and adhered sutures are removed and 
discarded. 
In addition to the above summary the following disclosure is detailed to 
insure adequacy and aid in understanding of the invention. This 
disclosure, however, is not intended to cover each variation in form or 
additions of further improvements. For this reason there has been chosen a 
specific embodiment of the cutter and adhesive tape strip as adopted for 
use in removing cut sutures and showing a preferred means for apparatus 
and method. This specific embodiment has been chosen for the purpose of 
illustration and description as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE SUTURE CUTTER AND METHOD OF REMOVING CUT SUTURES 
Referring now in particular to the drawing, there is shown a typical 
representation of the suturing of a cut on an arm 10 of a patient having a 
cut 12 closed for healing by a plurality of sutures 14. These sutures are 
inserted and tied in the normal manner and as is customary the positioning 
and spacing are neatly arranged. In FIG. 2 is shown in an enlarged view 
the typical arm 10 having a cut 12 closed by a plurality of sutures 14. It 
is anticipated that the knotted portions of the sutures, which are 
indicated as 16, may lay more-or-less in a straight line in which case an 
adhesive tape 18 is placed over these suture knots to tightly adhere the 
knots and adjacent suture portions to the adhesive side of the tape. 
Preferably this tape has an adhesive coating as is adapted for ready 
disengagement from skin. This is the adhesive preferable for use with the 
tape 18. With the placement of the adhesively surfaced tape on the sutures 
the knife cutting portion 20 of the suture cutter, generally indicated as 
22, is brought to the sutured area. 
USE OF SUTURE CUTTER AND METHOD OF REMOVING CUT SUTURES 
To use the apparatus of this invention the surgeon or attendant lifts one 
end portion of the affixed tape 18 sufficiently for the blunt end and 
cutting portion 20 to be brought to and under the suture as in FIG. 4. The 
knife portion is then advanced with a slight upward urging of the blade so 
as to slice the suture as the cutting edge portion is advanced forward. In 
the meantime, the tape is lifted sufficiently for the cutting portion to 
slide under the next suture. As progressively the sutures are cut, the 
tape at these cut sutures is lifted. This method enables all the sutures 
to be cut in a sequential manner. After all the sutures are cut the 
adhered cut sutures and tape are pulled from the skin and the now removed 
sutures and tape are discarded. If these are the only sutures to be 
removed at this time it is contemplated that the suture cutter will also 
be discarded. 
It is to be noted that the suture cutter is made of a relatively low carbon 
steel wire and as a knife has no other use or dangerous potential. The 
cost of such a suture cutter made in large quantities can be produced for 
one or two cents or less if the cutting edge portion 20 is made by an 
automatic swaging or shaping action. Since this is a one time use of a 
product, after the shaping of the edge the suture cutter as a whole may be 
lightly washed-plated or lightly coated prior to its being sealed in a 
package for storage and shipment. The cost of such treating of the steel 
member is only a few cents per thousand. 
The invention includes the placing of an adhesively coated tape-like member 
over a series of sutures with the exposed suture portions embedded in the 
adhesive portion of the tape. The tape is progressively lifted as the 
sutures are cut. Cutting of the sutures is achieved by a forward slicing 
action. A cutting portion is formed on a steel wire of less than 
one-eighth of an inch in diameter. As reduced to practice, the preferred 
wire diameter of one-sixteenth of an inch is formed with a sharpened edge 
and a blunt forward end. A portion of the wire is formed into a loop-like 
configuration to provide a small manipulative handle. 
Terms such as "left", "right", "up", "down", "bottom", "top", "front", 
"back", "in", "out" and the like are applicable to the suture cutter and 
tape as shown and described in conjunction with the drawing. These terms 
are merely for the purposes of description and do not necessarily apply to 
the position in which the cutter and tape may be placed on the patient or 
may be constructed or used. 
While a particular embodiment of the cutter and tape and the removal of 
sutures thereby have been shown and described it is to be understood 
modifications may be made within the scope of the accompanying claims and 
protection is sought to the extent the prior art allows.