CPC A61B 17/06166 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0485 (2013.01); A61B 17/06 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00004 (2013.01); A61B 2017/044 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0417 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0462 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0464 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0475 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0496 (2013.01); A61B 2017/06176 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
1. A self-retaining suture comprising:
(a) a needle configured to penetrate tissue, wherein the needle has a needle diameter; and
(b) a suture comprising:
(i) a first end coupled with the needle;
(ii) an elongated suture body having a periphery;
(iii) a plurality of tissue retainers extending along at least a portion of the periphery of the elongated suture body, wherein the plurality of tissue retainers is configured to resist movement of the self-retaining suture in a direction substantially opposite to a deployment direction of the first end; and
(iv) a second end that forms a fixed loop fixedly integral with the elongated suture body, wherein the fixed loop has a fixed loop diameter that is fixed, wherein the fixed loop diameter is less than the needle diameter which is configured to prevent the needle from passing through the fixed loop, wherein the elongated suture body extends through the fixed loop to form a variable loop having a variable loop diameter, wherein the needle is configured to pass through the variable loop, wherein the elongated suture body is slidably disposed in the fixed loop to vary the variable loop diameter.
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