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:
Sep. 01, 2009
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2001
Ian D. Mcrury, Medway, MA (US);
Douglas W. Dunn, Mansfield, MA (US);
Nathan S. Cauldwell, Mansfield, MA (US);
Ian D. McRury, Medway, MA (US);
Douglas W. Dunn, Mansfield, MA (US);
Nathan S. Cauldwell, Mansfield, MA (US);
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Abstract
A suture welding system for fixedly attaching a first length of suture to a second length of suture includes an electrosurgical energy source and a suture welding device. The suture welding device has a working end, a suture contacting element disposed on the working end, a first electrode electrically coupled to the electrosurgical energy source, and a second electrode electrically coupled to the electrosurgical energy source. The first electrode is disposed on the suture contacting element for providing electrical energy to the first and second lengths of suture, and the second electrode is disposable proximate to the suture welding site for providing a return electrical energy path to the electrosurgical energy source. When electrical energy is provided by the first electrode to the first and second lengths of suture welds, the first and second lengths of suture are welded into a fixed attachment.