The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 23, 2021
Filed:
Dec. 14, 2016
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Jeffrey M. Gross, Encinitas, CA (US);
William L. D'Agostino, Hamden, CT (US);
Lev Drubetsky, Coquitlam, CA;
Alexander Naimagon, Canada, CA;
Jacob D. Conner, Springfield, MO (US);
Kevin R. Whitworth, Springfield, MO (US);
Ryan T. Woolsey, Springfield, MO (US);
Fred M. Dickey, Springfield, MO (US);
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Ethicon LLC, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Abstract
A laser-machining system and method is disclosed for forming retainers on a suture thread. The laser system is preferably a femtosecond laser system which is capable of creating submicron features on the suture thread while preserving strength of the suture thread. The laser-machining system enables creation of retainers and self-retaining suture systems in configurations which are difficult and/or impossible to achieve using mechanical cutting technology. The laser-machining system includes a stabilization device configured to provide contactless stabilization of the suture thread during a machining operation on the suture thread.