Suture with a plurality of color marks
Inventors
Siccardi, Francesco • Kehrli, Ernst • Berberich, Sascha • Gédet, Philippe
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12514677-B2
Publication Date
2026-01-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
A suture includes an outer sheath with color marks and a background visually distinguishable from the color marks. Each color mark has exposed portions of at least two colored yarns of first and second different colors. The background includes exposed portions of background yarns of a background color. The background yarns and the colored yarns are braided to each other. The first and second colors are different from the background color. The color marks are arranged in at least one row along a longitudinal direction of the suture. Each color mark is longitudinally shifted with respect to a subsequent color mark in a same row by a first shift, and the exposed portions of the colored yarns of each color mark are substantially parallel to each other and arranged in a sequence along the longitudinal direction of the suture.
Core Innovation
The invention is a suture with an outer sheath bearing repeated color marks against a visually distinguishable background. Each mark comprises more than two substantially parallel exposed portions of differently colored yarns, arranged in a repeated sequence along the suture, and is longitudinally shifted relative to a subsequent mark in the same row. No background yarn portions are exposed within a color mark.
The described problem concerns identifying the suture strand and its travel direction during use and knotting, particularly in minimally invasive procedures. The sequence of color marks provides a reversible color code to aid strand identification and knotting. The described benefits include reducing the risk of tangling and the time needed for knotting.
Claims Coverage
The supplied claims identify one independent claim, claim 1, which covers one integrated inventive feature: a braided suture outer sheath with repeated, longitudinally shifted color marks.
Braided suture with repeated, shifted color marks
Claim 1 covers an outer sheath in which braided background yarns and colored yarns form a visually distinguishable background and color marks. Each mark contains more than two exposed portions of colored yarns, including portions of at least a first and a different second color; portions of the same color are adjacent, and the portions are substantially parallel and arranged in a sequence. The sequence repeats along the same row, each mark is longitudinally shifted relative to a subsequent mark, and background portions are absent from within each mark. The dependent-claim summary also identifies refinements concerning row arrangement, shifts, the number of exposed portions, braiding configuration, and yarn material.
The independent claim centers on repeated sequences of exposed, differently colored yarn portions that form shifted marks against a braided background. The dependent claims refine the marks' arrangement and dimensions and specify sheath construction and yarn material.
Stated Advantages
The color sequence aids strand identification and knotting, particularly in minimally invasive procedures.
The described benefits include reduced risk of tangling and reduced knotting time.
Documented Applications
The suture is described for use in minimally invasive procedures, where the color sequence aids strand identification and knotting.
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