Patent ID: 7582097

Claim:
A suture welding system for fixedly attaching a first length of suture to a second length of suture at a suture welding site, comprising: an electrosurgical energy source configured to generate radio frequency waves; first and second lengths of suture; and a suture welding device, having: a working end; a suture contacting element located on the working end and having the first and second lengths of suture disposed thereon; a first electrode electrically coupled to the electrosurgical energy source and disposed on the suture contacting element for providing radio frequency energy to the first and second lengths of suture; and a second electrode electrically coupled to the electrosurgical energy source and disposable proximate to the suture welding site for providing a return electrical energy path to the electrosurgical energy source; wherein provision of radio frequency energy by the first electrode to the first and second lengths of suture welds the first and second lengths of suture into a fixed attachment.