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:
Jan. 16, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 13, 1998
Thomas D. Egan, Marblehead, MA (US);
Daniel C. Taylor, Andover, MA (US);
Axya Medical, Inc., Beverly, MA (US);
Abstract
A suture guide and fastener includes a suture retaining device which orients and secures one or more suture strands therein and receives energy applied to the strands to bond them within the suture retaining device. The fastener becomes integral with the bonded sutures and may be made of a material similar to the suture material, which melts upon the application of energy thereto. Alternatively, the fastener may be made of a different material which remains intact upon application of bonding energy to the sutures. When ultrasonic energy is applied, the fastener may function as a stationary ultrasonic weld anvil. Other types of energy, such as laser, thermal or chemical, may be applied to the suture strands to effect bonding.