suture

Abstract

This invention discloses a suture, comprising a suture body, barbs, a needle, and a locking component. One end of the suture body is connected to the needle, and the other end is connected to the locking component. A plurality of barbs are arranged at intervals on the suture body, with the ends of the barbs extending away from the suture body towards the locking component, and forming a first angle with the suture body. The locking component includes a wall, a limiting part, and an inlet and an outlet correspondingly located at both ends of the wall. The limiting part is located inside the wall and can stop the movement of the suture body from the outlet towards the inlet, thereby automatically locking the suture. This invention's suture, by cooperating with the barb structure and the limiting part of the locking component, allows only unidirectional sliding of the suture, automatically preventing it from retracting, thus achieving knot-free suturing and improving surgical efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical surgical instruments, and more particularly to a suture. Background Technology

[0002] In surgical procedures, sutures are an important tool for closing wounds or tissues. Traditional sutures rely on knotting to fix them, but knotting is a cumbersome operation, especially in minimally invasive surgeries such as laparoscopic or endoscopic surgeries. Due to limited operating space, knotting is difficult and time-consuming, and it is easy for the knot to slip due to insecure ligation, which can lead to complications.

[0003] However, existing barbed sutures still have significant drawbacks. Although the barbs provide some anchoring, the suture often fails to automatically secure itself during threading, requiring additional manipulation or components for reliable locking. For example, some barbed sutures still require manual tightening of the loop or the use of anti-slip structures after threading, increasing operational complexity and resulting in unstable fixation, easily loosening under tissue tension. Specifically, in existing barbed sutures, the barbs themselves may not provide immediate, automatic fixation after threading, causing the suture to slip within the tissue, affecting wound closure quality and reducing surgical efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a suture that, by cooperating with the barbed structure and the limiting part of the locking component, allows the suture to slide in only one direction and automatically prevents it from retracting, thereby achieving knot-free suturing and improving surgical efficiency. The specific technical solution is as follows: A suture includes a suture body, barbs, a needle, and a locking assembly. One end of the suture body is connected to the needle, and the other end of the suture body is connected to the locking assembly. A plurality of barbs are arranged sequentially at intervals on the suture body. The ends of the barbs away from the suture body extend toward the direction of the locking assembly, and the barbs and the suture body have a first included angle. The locking assembly includes a wall, a limiting part, and an inlet and an outlet correspondingly provided at both ends of the wall. The limiting part is located on the inner side of the wall and can stop the movement of the suture body from the outlet to the inlet, so that the suture body is automatically locked.

[0005] Furthermore, the limiting part includes a plurality of teeth arranged in sequence, with one end of the teeth away from the wall extending from the inlet to the outlet, and the teeth and the wall having a second included angle.

[0006] Furthermore, the limiting part includes multiple corresponding elastic parts, with the ends of the elastic parts away from the wall part abutting against each other.

[0007] Furthermore, it also includes a textured section, which is located on the inner side of the wall and near the outlet.

[0008] Furthermore, the diameter of the inlet is larger than the diameter of the outlet, and the distance between the barb and the cable body is greater than the diameter of the outlet.

[0009] Furthermore, the locking component has a ring-shaped or funnel-shaped structure, and the cable is connected at the middle position between the inlet and outlet.

[0010] Furthermore, the locking component also includes multiple corresponding elastic claws, which are positioned near the cable outlet. One end of the elastic claw is connected to the wall, and the other end is abutted against each other.

[0011] Furthermore, both the inlet and outlet ports are designed to be circular.

[0012] Furthermore, the first included angle is set to 30° to 45°, and the second included angle is set to 15° to 30°.

[0013] Furthermore, the height of the locking component is set to 2mm to 2.5mm.

[0014] The suture of the present invention has the following advantages: 1. By setting the inclined barb, the suture slides smoothly when passing through the locking component in the forward direction, and when moving in the reverse direction, the limiting part in the locking component automatically stops the suture after it passes through. The suture, barb, needle and limiting part work together to achieve the effect of locking as soon as the suture is passed through. It is especially suitable for minimally invasive surgical scenarios such as laparoscopy, which can shorten the operation time and reduce the risk of wound rupture due to loose knot.

[0015] 2. The limiting part is a multi-layered toothed part. The stacked teeth are like multiple one-way valves. When the thread passes through, the inclined surface of the teeth provides smooth guidance. When pulled in the opposite direction, the teeth and the barbs form a mechanical interlock. Even if a single tooth fails, the remaining teeth can still maintain the locking function and maintain a stable locking effect under different tissue tensions.

[0016] 3. It adopts a structure with multiple corresponding elastic parts. The elastic parts abut against each other in their natural state. The integrated design of the elastic parts and the wall ensures the consistency of each opening and closing action. Its gentle locking force is suitable for the long-term retention requirements of absorbable sutures.

[0017] 4. A textured section is added inside the locking component to achieve precise control of friction through surface microstructure. The textured section adopts structures such as annular ridges or micro-protrusions to increase the contact area and enhance static friction. The textured section and the limiting section form a synergistic effect, providing both uniformly distributed friction and maintaining a smooth operating feel, allowing doctors to accurately perceive the locking status through tactile feedback.

[0018] 5. The inlet is larger than the outlet, forming a relatively larger guide entrance, which can effectively capture and guide the needle, reducing the difficulty of threading. The maximum outer dimension of the needle is larger than the diameter of the outlet. When the suture is tightened, a stable mechanical interlock is formed, effectively preventing backflow.

[0019] 6. The ring-shaped structure provides a larger tissue contact area, making the locking component more stable after implantation and less prone to displacement or rotation. It is suitable for use on soft or slippery tissue surfaces, effectively dispersing local pressure and reducing cutting damage to tissues. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall suture of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the locking component of the suture thread according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the locking component of the suture thread according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the elastic claw in the suture of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of Embodiment 3 of the suture of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To better understand the purpose, structure, and function of this invention, the suture of this invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Example 1 Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the present invention provides a suture for surgical suturing, comprising a suture body 1, barbs 2, a needle 3, and a locking component 4. One end of the suture body 1 is connected to the needle 3, and the other end of the suture body 1 is connected to the locking component 4. The needle 3 guides the movement of the suture body 1 and is fixed to the site to be sutured by the locking component 4. Along the axial direction of the suture body 1, a plurality of barbs 2 are arranged sequentially at intervals on the outside of the suture body 1. One end of the barb 2 is connected to the suture body 1, and the other end away from the suture body 1 extends in the direction of the locking component 4. The barb 2 and the suture body 1 have a first angle 5. The first angle 5 makes the barbs point like hooks in the fixed direction of the suture, increasing the contact area and embedment depth between the barb 2 and the tissue, so that the barb 2 is more effectively anchored in the tissue and resists reverse tension. When the suture moves along the direction of the needle 3, the barb 2 can slide smoothly into the tissue due to the first angle 5. However, when the suture body 1 attempts to move in the opposite direction, the first angle 5 causes the barb 2 to get stuck in the tissue, generating mechanical resistance, thereby preventing the suture from returning to its original position.

[0027] The locking component 4 is funnel-shaped, including a wall portion 41, a limiting portion, and an inlet 6 and an outlet 7 correspondingly provided at both ends of the wall portion 41. A through-cavity is formed within the wall portion 41 of the locking component 4. The needle portion 3 guides the suture 1 into the cavity through the inlet 6 and out through the outlet 7. The limiting portion is located inside the wall portion 41, inside the cavity. When the suture 1 enters the locking component 4, the limiting portion can cooperate with the suture 1 or the barb portion 2 to stop the movement of the suture 1 from the outlet 7 towards the inlet 6, thereby automatically locking the suture 1 without the need for manual knotting, thus improving surgical efficiency.

[0028] Preferred, such as Figure 2 As shown, the limiting part includes multiple funnel-shaped teeth 42 stacked from top to bottom to help the suture 1 enter more easily from the inlet 6 and be guided to the outlet 7. The upper and lower ends of the teeth 42 are connected, and there is a second included angle 44 between the teeth 42 and the wall 41. The end of the teeth 42 away from the wall 41 extends from the inlet 6 towards the outlet 7. When the suture 1 enters the chamber from the inlet 6 with the needle 3, the inclined surface of the teeth 42 guides the suture 1 to slide smoothly to the outlet 7. However, when the suture 1 attempts to move in the opposite direction, the inclined surface of the teeth 42 will jam the suture 1 or the barb 2, forming a mechanical stop. The stacked teeth 42 provide multiple safety measures to ensure that even if one tooth 42 fails, the other teeth 42 can continue to form a stop. This makes the locking process automatically triggered without the need for manual knotting or adjustment, significantly shortening the operation time. It is especially suitable for minimally invasive surgery, reducing operation steps and human error. In addition, the stacked teeth 42 increase the contact points and tolerance. Even if the line 1 has a slight deviation or the barb 2 is worn, the multiple teeth 42 can ensure effective stopping. The second included angle 44 can be adjusted according to the first included angle 5 so that the teeth 42 can accurately engage between the line 1 and the barb 2 when reversing, generating additional resistance.

[0029] It is understandable that the tooth can also be configured as a ratchet or stepped structure. The technicians can choose according to actual needs, as long as it can achieve the effect of the tooth 42 engaging between the line 1 and the barb 2 when the line 1 moves in the opposite direction, thus generating additional resistance.

[0030] Furthermore, the first included angle 5 is set to 30° to 45°, and the second included angle 44 is set to 15° to 30°. The first included angle 5 of 30° to 45° can ensure the anchoring effect of the barb 2 in the tissue, while the second included angle 44 of 15° to 30° focuses on the force transmission inside the locking component 4. The two form an angle difference of about 15°, so that the force direction of the barb 2 when passing through the tooth 42 is smoothly transitioned, avoiding structural damage caused by sudden stress changes, thereby forming the best locking effect with the first included angle 5.

[0031] Furthermore, it also includes a textured section 8, which is located inside the wall section 41 and close to the outlet 7. The textured section 8 can be configured with various surface microstructures, such as annular ridges or wavy patterns. These patterns also have a bevel facing the outlet 7. One side of the bevel faces the inlet 6 to facilitate the sliding out of the thread 1, while the other side faces the inlet 6 to resist pullback. Alternatively, the textured section 8 can be configured with a raised dot structure or a rough surface formed by sandblasting to increase friction and prevent the thread 1 from moving slightly after locking, thus ensuring the long-term stability of the sewing tension. This uniformly distributed friction generated by the textured section 8 complements the concentrated locking force generated by the limiting section, forming a multi-layered anti-slip guarantee.

[0032] Preferably, the diameter of the inlet 6 is larger than the diameter of the outlet 7, thus forming a relatively larger guide entrance. This effectively captures and guides the needle 3. Even with slight operational deviations, the tip of the needle 3 is easily guided into the large-diameter inlet 6 and smoothly passes through the tapering channel to the outlet 7, reducing the difficulty of threading, especially in minimally invasive surgeries with limited visibility. The distance between the barb 2 and the suture body 1 is greater than the diameter of the outlet 7, meaning the maximum outer dimension of the barb 2 is greater than the diameter of the outlet 7. When the suture is tightened, as the barb 2 moves towards the outlet 7 with the suture body 1, its tip is compressed and deformed due to the elasticity and directionality of the barb, allowing it to barely pass through the smaller diameter outlet 7. After the suture is tightened, if an attempt is made to pull it back, the base of the barb will quickly open and lock into the inner edge of the outlet 7. Because the diameter of the outlet 7 is smaller than the free-state size of the barb, a stable mechanical interlock is formed, effectively preventing suture backflow.

[0033] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, the locking component 4 also includes a tightening part located near the suture outlet 7. The tightening part includes multiple corresponding elastic claws 9. One end of each elastic claw 9 is integrally formed with the wall 41 of the locking component 4, while the other end is a free end. In their natural state, they abut against each other, forming a narrowed channel with a diameter smaller than or equal to that of the suture outlet 7. When the suture is tightened and positioned, if subjected to a reverse pulling force, the barb 2 will attempt to move towards the suture inlet 6. At this time, the free ends of the abutting elastic claws 9 will act like clamps, tightly gripping the suture body 1. The greater the reverse pulling force, the greater the radial clamping force generated by the wedge effect of the elastic claws 9, thus forming a self-reinforcing locking mechanism. This effectively resists the extremely large instantaneous pulling force generated by violent tissue activity or internal pressure changes, providing a reliable guarantee for wound healing and reducing the risk of wound dehiscence.

[0034] It is understandable that the elastic claw 9 can cooperate with the aforementioned limiting part and textured part 8. The limiting part provides low resistance for initial passage and quick closure, the textured part 8 suppresses slight slippage by increasing friction, and the elastic claw 9 provides a strong rigid mechanical lock. This gradient structure makes the resistance encountered by the thread 1 when passing through the locking component 4 increase smoothly, avoiding the abrupt feeling of locking, which is conducive to precise control of the sewing tension, thereby ensuring the all-round locking safety of the thread 1 from low tension to extremely high tension.

[0035] Furthermore, when the barb 2 on the suture line passes through the inlet 6 or outlet 7, it will come into contact with and rub against the edge of the inlet 6 or outlet 7. Both the inlet 6 and outlet 7 are designed to be circular, which can evenly distribute the contact force along the entire contact arc, thereby minimizing stress concentration. This effectively prevents the barb 2 from developing microcracks, curling, or permanent plastic deformation due to stress concentration when repeatedly threaded or passing through with a single strong force. This is crucial for maintaining the original shape and elastic recovery of the barb 2, ensuring its long-term anchoring performance.

[0036] Furthermore, the distance between the inlet 6 and the outlet 7 is defined as the height of the locking component 4. The height of the locking component 4 is set to approximately twice the cross-sectional diameter of the suture body 1. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional diameter of the suture body 1 is 1 mm, and the height of the locking component 4 is set to 2 mm to 2.5 mm to be suitable for various suturing scenarios from soft tissue to dense tissue. At the same time, it reduces the risk of compression on surrounding tissues and minimizes the retention of foreign objects, which is beneficial to wound healing.

[0037] Preferably, the locking component 4 is made of an elastic material that can be absorbed by human tissue. This allows the elastic locking component 4 to move with the surrounding tissue within the body, reducing continuous pressure and friction on the tissue and significantly lowering the risk of foreign body sensation, inflammatory response, and tissue erosion. The locking component 4 and the suture 1 are integrally molded, enabling continuous force transmission between the components. This avoids stress concentration that could lead to premature breakage of the locking component 4 and the suture 1, ensuring the suture maintains functional stability under long-term loads.

[0038] Furthermore, the suture 1 is positioned midway between the inlet 6 and the outlet 7. When the suture is under tension, the force is evenly transmitted from the connection point to the inlet 6 and outlet 7 on both sides, avoiding excessive stress concentration at one end. This symmetrical distribution improves the durability and reliability of the suture. In addition, when the suture 1 is under tension, the barbs 2 on both sides simultaneously embed into the surrounding tissue, providing double the anchoring force and enhancing the stability of the suture.

[0039] Example 2 Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, the difference from Embodiment 1 is that the limiting part includes multiple correspondingly arranged spherical elastic parts. The elastic parts are evenly arranged circumferentially inside the wall 41 of the locking assembly 4. The elastic parts are set as flexible sheet-like structures. In the natural state of the wire 1 passing through, the ends away from the wall 41 are tightly abutted against each other, forming a closed gap or a contact surface, which almost seals the chamber of the locking assembly 4 in the axial direction. When the wire 1 has completely passed through the elastic parts, the elastic parts quickly rebound due to their own elasticity and return to the state of mutual abutment. At this time, if the wire 1 attempts to move in the opposite direction from the outlet 7 to the inlet 6, the barb 2 will interfere with the abutting edge of the elastic part. The greater the reverse pulling force, the greater the radial opening force of the barb 2 on the elastic part. However, the elastic part cannot open smoothly under the structural restriction, but instead gets stuck tighter with the barb 2, thereby restricting the movement of the wire 1, thus achieving effective mechanical stopping. This locking process is automatically triggered by the direction of the wire 1 passing through, without any manual operation, achieving the beneficial effect of locking as soon as the wire is threaded. Furthermore, the elastic part and the wall 41 of the locking component 4 are integrally formed, thereby ensuring that the elastic part can open and close in a preset, repeatable manner each time the thread 1 passes through, providing a stable locking force.

[0040] Example 3 Figure 5 As shown, the difference from Embodiment 1 is that the locking component 4 has a flat, ring-shaped structure with a funnel-shaped chamber in the middle. Those skilled in the art can choose according to actual needs. The ring-shaped structure provides a larger tissue contact area, making the locking component 4 more stable after implantation, less prone to displacement or rotation, and suitable for use on soft or slippery tissue surfaces. It effectively disperses local pressure and reduces tissue cutting damage. Furthermore, the flat ring-shaped structure facilitates clamping and positioning, providing better operational feedback for doctors. Its low-profile design also reduces obtrusiveness within the body, improving postoperative patient comfort. It is understood that a circular groove can be provided on the outer edge of the suture outlet to allow the barb 2 to engage with the outlet. Those skilled in the art can configure this according to actual conditions.

[0041] The terms “above,” “below,” and “within” as used above include the number itself; the terms “exceeding” and “excluding” do not include the number itself.

[0042] The present invention has been further described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be understood that the specific descriptions herein should not be construed as limiting the substance and scope of the present invention. Various modifications made to the above embodiments by those skilled in the art after reading this specification are all within the scope of protection of the present invention. The various specific technical features described in the above embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the embodiments of the present invention will not further describe various possible combinations.

[0043] If the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

Claims

1. A suture, characterized in that, The device includes a thread body, barbs, a needle, and a locking assembly. One end of the thread body is connected to the needle, and the other end is connected to the locking assembly. Several barbs are arranged at intervals on the thread body. The ends of the barbs away from the thread body extend towards the direction of the locking assembly, and there is a first angle between the barbs and the thread body. The locking assembly includes a wall, a limiting part, and an inlet and an outlet correspondingly provided at both ends of the wall. The limiting part is located on the inner side of the wall and can stop the movement of the thread body from the outlet to the inlet, so that the thread body is automatically locked.

2. The suture as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting part includes a plurality of teeth arranged in sequence. The end of the teeth away from the wall extends from the inlet to the outlet, and there is a second included angle between the teeth and the wall.

3. The suture as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting part includes multiple corresponding elastic parts, and the ends of the elastic parts away from the wall part abut against each other.

4. The suture as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, It also includes a textured section, which is located on the inside of the wall and near the outlet.

5. The suture as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the inlet is larger than the diameter of the outlet, and the distance between the barb and the cable body is greater than the diameter of the outlet.

6. The suture as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The locking component has a ring-shaped or funnel-shaped structure, and the cable is connected in the middle of the inlet and outlet.

7. The suture as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The locking component also includes multiple corresponding elastic claws, which are positioned near the cable outlet. One end of the elastic claw is connected to the wall, and the other end is abutted against each other.

8. The suture as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, Both the inlet and outlet ports are designed to be circular.

9. The suture as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first included angle is set to 30° to 45°, and the second included angle is set to 15° to 30°.

10. The suture as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The height of the locking component is set to 2mm to 2.5mm.

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