Ethicon, Gmbh

Quill Medical, Inc.

Blokrok, Inc.

Cilag International Gmbh

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Matthew A Megaro

Jeffrey C Leung

Gregory L Ruff

Andrew Kaplan

Brad Forrest

Arianna Megaro

Robert C Williams, Iii

Stanton D Batchelor

Anthony R Megaro

Perry Arthur Genova

Robert C Williams

Warren R Jewett

Matt Khare

Robert C Williams Iii

Andrew John Corson

Michael W Trull

Robert C Iii Williams

A method and device for anchoring a length of self-retaining suture. The method of anchoring includes providing for an assembly having a length of self-retaining suture and a suture insertion device. The length of suture includes at least a portion of the length having a plurality of retainers thereon extending in a first direction. The insertion device has a length and a recess to receive a portion of the suture length. The method further includes placing a portion of the suture length in the recess and inserting the device into the body of a mammal until the recess reaches a predetermined location thereby forming an insertion pathway. The method further includes retrieving the insertion device from the body by moving the insertion device in a direction substantially opposed to the insertion pathway.

Length of self-retaining suture and method and device for using the same

A barbed suture including a body with barbs on the periphery, a pointed end, and an anchor at one end to resist movement of the suture in the direction of the pointed end is provided. One or more limbs on the anchor may be provided, which may be arcuate, of varying lengths, and of varying distribution about the periphery of the suture body. Other anchor designs are provided. Methods of placing single-directional and bi-directional barbed sutures to approximate the tissue on each side of a wound and to position and support tissue in the absence of a wound, as in cosmetic surgery, are provided, and may include terminal J-stitches or S-stitches. Methods of placement may be made with sharp, pointed ends, which may be needles, or insertion devices. Sinusoidal patterns of sutures that have amplitudes generally perpendicular to the resultant holding force of the suture are provided.

Suture methods and devices

A fluid transfer assembly comprises a housing for accommodating a fluid. A bellows member disposed in the housing defines an opening therethrough adapted to be in fluid communication with an applicator assembly. The bellows member is adapted to operatively engage the applicator assembly for extension in a first direction and contraction in a second direction. The bellows member seals against the inner surface of the housing during extension and contraction for defining a variable volume chamber with the housing. Expansion of the bellows member in the first direction reduces the chamber volume for generating positive pressure in the housing and forcing fluid through a valve to the applicator assembly. Contraction of the bellows member in the second direction increases the chamber volume for generating negative pressure within the housing for drawing fluid into the chamber.

Apparatus and method for dispensing a fluid

An apparatus for dispensing a fluid from a source of fluid comprises a roller and a tray member. The tray member comprises a pair of spaced walls having a contiguous tapered inner surface for defining an arcuate recess in an outer surface of the tray member, the outer surface tapering to an outer edge of each wall. Roller mounting means includes a pair of resilient spaced arms, each one of the arms spanning between and interconnecting the ends of the spaced wall. The tray member defines a pair ports spaced along a central longitudinal axis of the tray member for providing fluid communication between the source of fluid and the tray member. The roller is rotatably mounted to the spaced arms for receiving fluid from the tray member and applying the fluid onto a surface.

Apparatus and method for dispensing fluid

An apparatus for dispensing a fluid comprises a housing and a resilient liner adapted to hold the fluid disposed in the housing. A fluid transfer mechanism is in fluid communication between the liner and an applicator assembly mounted on the housing for dispensing the fluid on the skin of the user. The applicator assembly includes an actuator movable relative to the housing so as to activate the fluid transfer mechanism when the actuator is reciprocated. A fluid delivery element is held in contact against skin of a user for applying the fluid onto the skin. The fluid delivery element is supported on the actuator to be movable together with the actuator by varying contact pressure with the skin. Each movement of the actuator generates continuous negative pressure within the liner for drawing fluid through the fluid transfer mechanism and collapsing the liner.

A barbed suture for connecting tissue, and a combination surgical needle with a barbed suture. The suture includes an elongated body and a plurality of barbs projecting from the body. Each barb causes the suture to resist movement in an opposite direction from which the barb faces. The disposition of the barbs on the body may be staggered, twist cut multiple spiral, overlapping, or random. Also, the configuration of the barbs may be a certain spirality angle &#x3b1;, barb cut angle &#x398;, barb cut depth, barb cut length, barb cut distance, corrugated barb underside, arcuate barb base, or varying barb size.

Barb configurations for barbed sutures

A barbed suture with a first end and a second end and a body with a plurality of barbs extending from the body. Each barb causes the suture to resist movement in an opposite direction from which the barb faces. Projections extend from said suture. The projections can also engage tissue. The barbs cover the projections when the first end of the suture is moved in tissue and exposes the projections in order to engage tissue when the suture is moved in the direction of the second end through tissue.

Self-retaining sutures having effective holding strength and tensile strength

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Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Matthew A Megaro