Combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device

Surgical needle abstract

A surgical needle is attached to a spiroid braided suture to provide a combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device. A shrinkable tubing is employed to secure the needle to the suture. The tubing shrinks in response to the application of energy, e.g., heat. Attachment parameters may be controlled to provide standard needle attachment or removable needle attachment.

Surgical needle claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for attaching a surgical needle to a spiroid braided suture to provide a combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device which comprises:

a) providing a surgical needle possessing a shank end of reduced diameter;

b) providing a spiroid braided suture possessing a tip region for attachment to the shank end of the needle;

c) placing a shrinkable plastic tubing around the reduced diameter needle shank end of the needle and the tip region of the suture to be attached thereto; and

d) applying energy to the shrinkable plastic tubing to bring the tubing into engagement with the needle shank and the tip region of the suture thereby providing the combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the needle is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of Series 300 stainless steels, Series 400 Stainless steels and an alloy comprising from about 6 to about 25 weight percent iron, from about 18 to about 40 weight percent nickel, from about 6 to about 12 percent molybdenum and from about 15 to about 25 weight percent chromium, the balance of the alloy being cobalt.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the shrinkable plastic is a polyvinylidene fluoride material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the tip region of the suture possesses an adhesive or resinous coating.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the shrinkable tubing is sequentially placed around the shank end of the needle and the tip region of the suture and energy is applied to the shrinkable tubing after each placement.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the spiroid braided suture exhibits a reduced level of tissue drag compared with that of a tubular braided suture of the same overall denier.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the spiroid braided suture exhibits a level of tissue drag which does not exceed about 60% of the level of tissue drag of a tubular braided suture of the same overall denier.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the spiroid braided suture exhibits a level of tissue drag which does not exceed about 40% of the level of tissue drag of a tubular braided suture of the same overall denier.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein for a given overall suture denier, the number of yarns and denier of individual filaments comprising a yarn of the spiroid braided suture are related to each other as follows:

10. The method of claim 1 wherein for a given overall suture denier, the number of yarns and denier of individual filaments comprising a yarn of the spiroid braided suture are related to each other as follows:

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the suture possesses a core, the maximum denier of the core for a given overall suture denier being as follows:

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the suture possesses a core, the maximum denier of the core for a given overall suture denier being as follows:

13. A combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device which comprises:

a) a surgical needle possessing a shank end of reduced diameter;

b) a spiroid braided suture possessing a tip region for attachment to the shank end of the needle; and,

c) a tubing engaging the shank end of the needle and the tip region of the suture, the tubing being fabricated from a shrinkable plastic material which undergoes contraction upon application of energy thereto.

14. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the needle is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of Series 300 stainless steels, Series 400 stainless steels and an alloy comprising from about 6 to about 25 weight percent iron, from about 18 to about 40 weight percent nickel, from about 6 to about 12 percent molybdenum and from about 15 to about 25 weight percent chromium, the balance of the alloy being cobalt.

15. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the shrinkable plastic material is a polyvinylidene fluoride material.

16. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the tip region of the spiroid braided suture possesses an adhesive or resinous coating.

17. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the spiroid braided suture exhibits a reduced level of tissue drag compared with that of a tubular braided suture of the same overall denier.

18. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the spiroid braided suture exhibits a level of tissue drag which does not exceed about 60% of the level of the tissue drag of a tubular braided suture of the same overall denier.

19. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the spiroid braided suture exhibits a level of tissue drag which does not exceed about 40% of the level of tissue drag of a tubular braided suture of the same overall denier.

20. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 19 wherein the spiroid braided suture exhibits a level of tissue drag which does not exceed about 20% of the level of tissue drag of a tubular braided suture of the same overall denier.

21. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 where the pull-out force for the device is as defined for tubular braided needle attachment.

22. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the pull-out force for the device is as defined for removable needle attachment.

23. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein for a given overall suture denier, the number of yarns and denier of individual filaments comprising a yarn of the spiroid braided suture are related to each other as follows:

24. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein for a given overall suture denier, the number of yarns and denier of individual filaments comprising a yarn of the spiroid braided suture are related to each other as follows:

25. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture of claim 13 wherein the suture possesses a core, the maximum denier of the core for a given overall suture denier being as follows:

26. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture of claim 13 wherein the suture possesses a core, the maximum denier of the core for a given overall suture denier being as follows:

27. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the spiroid braided suture is fabricated from a non-absorbable material.

28. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 27 wherein the non-absorbable material is cotton, silk, polyamide or polyolefine.

29. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 27 wherein the individual filaments of the suture are fabricated from a bio-absorbable polymer.

30. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 27 wherein the individual filaments of the suture are fabricated from a polymer derived at least in part from one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, glycolide, lactic acid and lactide.

31. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the spiroid braided suture is fabricated from a material which is susceptible to hydrolysis, the suture possessing a storage stabilizing amount of at least one water soluble, liquid polyhydroxy compound and/or ester thereof as storage stabilizing agent.

32. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided of claim 31 wherein the water soluble, liquid polyhydroxy oxy compound is glycerol.

33. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 31 wherein the water soluble, liquid polyhydroxy compound is admixed with a thickener.

34. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 33 wherein the thickener is a saturated aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid of the general formula ##STR2## wherein R is a hydrogen or methyl and R' is a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal and n is 0 or 1 and hydrates thereof.

35. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 34 wherein the saturated aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid salt is calcium lactate.

36. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 32 wherein the glycerol is admixed with calcium lactate.

37. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the spiroid braided suture is surface-coated with a composition enhancing one or more functional properties of the suture.

38. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 37 wherein the suture is surface-coated with a composition which enhances the surface lubricity and/or knot tie-down performance of the suture.

39. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 38 wherein the composition is a bioabsorbable coating composition obtained by copolymerizing a polyether glycol with a mixture of lactide monomer and glycolide monomer or a preformed copolymer of lactide and glycolide.

40. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 39 wherein the polyether glycol is selected from the group consisting of low molecular weight polyalkylene glycol and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide copolymer.

41. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the spiroid braided suture contains at least one medico-surgically useful substance.

42. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 41 wherein the medico-surgically useful substance is a Human Growth Factor.

43. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 13 wherein the suture is filled with a filling composition comprising a surgical wound healing enhancing amount of at least one Human Growth Factor and as carrier therefor at least one water soluble, liquid polyhydroxy compound and/or ester thereof.

44. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 43 wherein the carrier is glycerol.

45. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 43 wherein the filling composition includes a thickener.

46. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 45 wherein the thickener is a saturated aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid of the general formula ##STR3## wherein R is a hydrogen or methyl and R' is a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal and n is 0 or 1 and hydrates thereof.

47. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 46 wherein the thickener is calcium lactate.

48. The combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of claim 45 wherein the carrier is glycerol and the thickener is calcium lactate.

Surgical needle description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined surgical needle-suture device and, more particularly, to such a device in which a shrinkable tubing attaches a spiroid braided suture to a surgical needle.

For many years, surgeons have employed combined surgical needle-suture devices in which a suture, or ligature, is attached to the shank end of a surgical needle. Such needle-suture combinations are provided for a wide variety of monofilament and braided suture materials, both absorbable and non-absorbable, e.g., catgut, silk, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, linen, cotton, and absorbable synthetic materials such as polymers and copolymers of glycolic and lactic acids and their cyclic dimers, glycolide and lactide.

Needle-suture combinations fall into two general classes: standard, or non-detachable, needle attachment and removable, or detachable, needle attachment. In the case of standard needle attachment, the suture is securely attached to the needle and is intended to be inseparable therefrom except by deliberate cutting or severing of the suture. Removable needle attachment, by contrast, is such that the needle is separable from the suture in response to a pulling or rupture force exerted by the surgeon. Minimum acceptable forces required to separate a needle from a suture (for various suture sizes) are set forth in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). The USP prescribes minimum individual pull-out forces and minimum average pull-out forces as measured for five needle-suture combinations. The minimum pull-out forces for both standard and removable needle-suture attachment set forth in the USP are hereby incorporated by reference.

One typical method for securing a suture to a needle involves providing a cylindrical recess, or axial bore, in the shank end of a needle and securing a suture therein. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1558037 teaches the addition of a cement material to such a substantially cylindrical recess to secure the suture therein. Additional methods for bonding a suture within a needle bore are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2928395 (adhesives) and U.S. Pat. No. 3394704 (bonding agents). Alternatively, a suture may be secured within an axial bore in a needle by swaging the needle in the region of the recess. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 1250114. Additional prior art methods for securing a suture within a needle bore include expansion of a catgut suture through the application of heat (U.S. Pat. No. 1665216), inclusion of protruding teeth within the axial bore to grasp an inserted suture (U.S. Pat. No. 1678361), and knotting the end of the suture to be inserted within the bore to secure the suture therein (U.S. Pat. No. 1747129).

Methods for detachably securing a suture to a needle are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3890975 and 3980177 teach swaging a suture within a needle bore such that the suture will have a pull-out value of from 3 to 26 ounces. Other detachable needle-suture attachment methods include providing a weakened suture segment (U.S. Pat. No. 3949756), tipping the end of a suture to be inserted in the axial bore of a needle with a lubricant (U.S. Pat. No. 3963031) and pre-tensioning a suture that is swaged within an axial needle bore (U.S. Pat. No. 3875946). See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3799169 3880167 3924630 3926194 3943933 3981307 4124027 and 4127133.

Another method for attaching a suture to a needle involves the use of tubing which is secured to the shank end of the needle and to the suture. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1613206 describes the use of a tubing (preferably silver) which is secured to the shank end of a needle and to a ligature. It is suggested that the tube may be attached to the needle by pressure or soldering and to the ligature by pressure or cementing. It is further suggested that the shank of the needle be of reduced cross section and the furthest extremity of the reduced diameter shank section be provided with a spike or point upon which the suture may b secured prior to tube application.

U.S. Pat. No. 2240330 describes a tubing attachment method whereby the tubing and suture are releasably secured to the needle. In particular, the needle and tubing are provided with cooperating catch and abutment means which are released one from the other by rotating the needle 90.degree. relative to the tubing (or vice versa). The tubing is manufactured from spring-tempered carbon steel or chrome nickel steel and is secured to the suture by heating the tubing and then swaging to the suture.

U.S. Pat. No. 3311110 relates to a flexible composite suture having a tandem linkage. the needle is secured to a flexible suture leader manufactured from a readily sterilizable plastic such as nylon, linear polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, polyester, silk or other proteinaceous material, e.g., by inserting and crimping the leader within an axial bore in the needle shank. The opposite end of the suture is crimped within a connector sleeve of a thin walled metal tubing, e.g., stainless steel. The opposite end of the tubing is crimped around a stiff suture, e.g., monofilament stainless steel.

U.S. Pat. No. 3918455 to Coplan describes a needle-suture attachment within a hollow suture portion secured to the shank end of a needle which is of reduced cross-section compared with the remainder of the needle.

Additional patents which describe the use of tubing to effect suture-needle attachment include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4672734 (forming needle from U-shaped metal plate around suture), 4359053 (silicone tubing), 3835912 (laser welding of metal tube to needle), 2814296 2802468 (chamfered tubing ends), 2302986 2240330 1981651 (needle and tubing screw threaded), 1960117 and 1591021.

Numerous disadvantages exist with methods used heretofore to effect needle-suture attachment. For example, those methods which involve the formation and use of an axial bore in the shank end of the needle require the use of expensive hole forming equipment. Moreover, it is difficult to maintain the bore concentric with the center-line of the needle and to control the depth (and diameter) of the bore when drilling the needle shank, whether using conventional drilling equipment or laser drilling. Another disadvantage lies in the possibility that foreign substances may inadvertently or uncontrollably be introduced into the needle bore, e.g., oil employed in the bore-drilling operation or silicone employed in a needle siliconization process. Measures taken to prevent or minimize the introduction of foreign materials into the needle bore, e.g., water blocking during the needle siliconization operation, are inconvenient, adding time, effort and cost to the needle production process.

Attachment processes which employ bored needle shanks also limit the range of materials from which needles may be fabricated in a cost effective fashion. For example, it is exceedingly difficult to drill Series 300 stainless steel (laser drilling is required) and, once drilled, it is difficult to swage Series 300 stainless steel in a consistent and reliable manner. For this reason, Series 300 stainless steel is not employed for the vast majority of needled suture products despite its advantageous combination of strength and ductility characteristics as compared to conventionally employed Series 400 stainless steel.

Additional disadvantages associated with needle-suture attachment methods which employ bored needle shanks include the weakness imparted to the bored section of the needle, particularly after swaging, and the attendant increased possibility that the needle will fracture in this region. It is also difficult to provide a specialized surface finish to the needle shank to assist in needle attachment, e.g., a texturized surface and/or a tapered bore. Swaging equipment used in such needle-suture attachment methods is also maintenance intensive.

Needle-suture attachment methods which have employed tubings heretofore also exhibit numerous disadvantages. Methods which employ metal tubings greatly diminish the flexibility of the needle-suture combination in the attachment region. Such diminished flexibility has a deleterious effect in many surgical procedures. Swaging of the tubing to the needle and the suture is also undesirable in that swaging is time-consuming, maintenance intensive, and subject to variability in attachment force.

Moreover, needle-suture attachment methods which have employed tubings heretofore have necessarily required the use of tubing having an inner diameter essentially equal to the outer diameters of the needle shank and suture tip to be attached. Too large a difference between the aforesaid inner and outer diameters inhibits the attachment process, and prevents a tight, secure interface between needle (and/or suture) and tubing. The limited tolerance between the tubing inner diameter and the needle shank/suture outer diameters in such methods make these dimensions critical, thereby making the attachment process more difficult and time-consuming, and increasing the likelihood of attachment failure and/or rejected materials.

In addition to the foregoing deficiencies associated with known needle-suture attachment methods and the resulting needle-suture devices, the sutures themselves, when they are of multifilament construction, tend to exhibit disadvantages of their own. While currently available braided suture product are generally acceptable in terms of their knot-tying and knot-holding properties, as removed from the package, they tend to be stiff and wiry and retain a "set" or "memory" such that at the time of use, it is usually necessary for the surgeon or assistant personnel to flex and stretch the suture to make it more readily handible. Furthermore, the surfaces of known braided sutures are perceptibly rough. Thus, if one passes one's hand or fingers along the braid, surface irregularities will be readily detected. The result of this rough surface is that the suture will exhibit drag or chatter as it is drawn through tissue, characteristics which militate against smooth, neat, accurately placed wound approximation so necessary to excellence in surgical practice.

In the case of one braided suture now on the market, due to the necessity of having to meet fiber strength requirements while at the same time retaining acceptable knot-tying and knot-holding properties, the suture is constructed from a greater amount of fiber and consequently is or larger diameter than the accepted industry standard.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a surgical needle-braided suture attachment procedure which eliminates the need for drilling a bore in the needle shank and swaging the suture therein.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an attachment procedure which reliably secures the suture to the needle in an efficient manner without close tolerances between elements.

It is a further object to provide a surgical needle-suture attachment procedure which is flexible and atraumatic.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a combined surgical needle-braided suture device wherein separation of the needle from the suture is obtained by pulling the suture from the needle within a predetermined range of pull-out force.

Another particular object of this invention is to provide a combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device in which the braided suture component possesses improved characteristics, specifically, greater flexibility, better hand and less chatter and drag, than braided sutures of known construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By way of satisfying the foregoing objects as well as other objects of the invention, there is provided in accordance with this invention a method of attaching a surgical needle to a spiroid braided suture to provide a combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device which comprises:

a) providing a surgical needle possessing a shank end of reduced diameter;

b) providing a spiroid braided suture possessing a tip region for attachment to the shank end of the needle;

c) placing a shrinkable tubing around the reduced diameter needle shank end of the needle and the tip region of the suture to be attached thereto; and,

d) applying energy to the shrinkable tubing to bring the tubing into engagement with the needle shank and the tip region of the suture thereby providing the combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device.

The physical and chemical characteristics of the material from which the shrinkable tubing component is fabricated, the relative diameters of the tubing, the needle shank and the suture, and the amount of energy applied to the tubing may be controlled to provide a combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device having a desired range of pull-out force. It is thus possible to produce standard needle-suture combinations and removable needle-suture combinations using a single attachment process and a common inventory of materials.

Due to the substantially parallel orientation of the fibers relative to its axis, the spiroid braided suture component of the combined surgical needle-suture device of this invention exhibits improved flexibility and hand and reduced tissue chatter and drag compared with tubular and/or cored braided sutures where the fibers cross over each other. Unlike tubular braided sutures, the solid spiroid braided suture shows little if any tendency to kink or snarl. Bends which might cause core popping (the penetration of the core through the braided sheath) in the known types of tubular braided sutures pose no risk of damage to the solid spiroid braided suture of this invention. Moreover, knot security in the spiroid braided suture is also superior to that obtainable with known tubular braided constructions. Factors contributing to enhanced knot security include the approximately perpendicular orientation of the fibers in the knot relative to the axis of the braid, the reduced density of the knot compared with the knot of a cored suture of equivalent size and the formation of a narrowed-down portion which makes the knot more difficult to untie.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a needle and a braided suture with a shrinkable tubing positioned therearound (prior to engagement of the tubing with the needle and suture);

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the tubing of FIG. 1 in engagement with the needle and suture;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of the present invention;

FIGS. 4-8 are photomicrographs of linear (FIGS. 4 and 5) and cross-sectional (FIGS. 6 7 and 8) views taken by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of a spiroid braided suture component in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are photomicrographs of linear (FIG. 9) and cross-sectional (FIG. 10) views taken by SEM of a commercially available tubular braided suture possessing a core component; and,

FIG. 11 is a graphical representation of the tissue drag characteristics of a spiroid braided suture component of the combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of the invention compared with that of two types of commercially available tubular braided sutures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for attaching a surgical needle to a spiroid braided suture and to the resulting combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device. The invention has application to any suture material, whether absorbable or non-absorbable, natural or synthetic, and to any needle material and configuration, whether straight or curved.

Since the attachment method of this invention dispenses with the need for an axial bore drilling operation, it is now possible to employ particularly tough alloys which, although highly advantageous for use in the fabrication of surgical needles, have heretofore not been considered for this application due to the difficulty of machining a suture-receiving bore or socket therein. A particularly useful class of alloys for use in constructing the needle component of the needle-suture device of this invention are the quaternary alloys described in U.S. Pat. No. 3767385 the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. These alloys contain from about 6 to about 25 weight percent iron and as principal alloying components therein, from about 18 to about 40 weight percent nickel, from about 6 to about 12 weight percent molybdenum and from about 15 to about 25 weight percent chromium, the balance being cobalt. A preferred alloy of this type, Multiphase MP35N (SPS Technologies), contains 35 weight percent nickel, 35% cobalt, 20% chromium, 10% molybdenum with residual elements such as carbon, silicon, sulfur and phosphorus being kept to as low a level as possible.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 surgical needle 10 possesses a reduced cross-sectional diameter at its shank end 12 relative to its remaining portion 14. The reduction in the diameter of shank end 12 can be achieved in any suitable manner, e.g., by turning on a lathe. Typically, shank end 12 possesses a diameter which is from about 10 to about 65% smaller than the diameter of the remainder of needle 10 and is preferably from about 25 to about 50% smaller. It is also possible to provide shank end 12 with a texturized surface to facilitate gripping by shrinkable tubing 20. For example, shank end 12 can be scored, ribbed or threaded, either in whole or in part. It may also be desirable to taper shank end 12 such that the distal end 16 of the shank will be of greater cross-sectional diameter than the cross-sectional diameter of the shank where it meets shoulder 18 or vice versa.

Shank end 12 is placed within one end of shrinkable tubing 20 and spiroid braided suture 30 is positioned within the other end of the tubing as shown in FIG. 1. A gap may exist between shank end 12 and suture tip region 31 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) or distal end 16 of shank end 12 may abut against suture tip region 31. As shown in FIG. 1 suture 30 may initially be of uniform cross-section throughout its length. Alternatively, tip region 31 of suture 30 i.e., the region inserted into tubing 20 may be of reduced cross-section relative to the remainder of suture 30 e.g., by tipping tip region 31 with an adhesive or resinous tipping agent while suture 30 is under tension. (See, e.g., Canadian Patent No. 1009532). Resin tipping may be desirable to prevent brooming of the suture, particularly for multifilament braided sutures, thereby rigidifying tip region 31 of the suture to facilitate its handling during the attachment process. Tipping under tension can also allow a spiroid braided suture of larger diameter, e.g., a suture diameter equal to the diameter of the needle to which it is to be attached, to be more efficiently attached to the needle using shrinkable tubing 20. It is not necessary according to the present invention, however, to reduce the diameter of suture tip region 31 to efficiently attach needle 10 to suture 30. Indeed, it may be possible or desirable to apply a tipping agent to prevent brooming without reducing suture diameter. As shown in FIG. 1 shrinkable tubing 20 initially has an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of suture tip region 31 thereby minimizing the importance of suture tipping.

After shrinkable tubing 20 is placed around shank end 12 of needle 10 and suture tip region 31 energy is applied to the tubing. In response to this energy, tubing 20 contracts, or shrinks, and engages shank end 12 and suture tip region 31. The overall length of tubing 20 may also be affected by the application of energy, e.g., the length of tubing 20 may reduce. Thus, the shrinking of tubing 20 brings the inner surface of tubing 20 into engagement with shank end 12 and tip region 31 of suture 30 thereby securing suture 30 to needle 10. Suitable energy sources include heat (convective or conductive), radiation, microwave energy, laser energy, etc.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2 shrinkable tubing 20 is simultaneously placed around both the tip region of suture 30 and shank end 12 of needle 10 in one embodiment of the present invention. It is preferable, however, to sequentially secure tubing 20 to needle 10 and suture 30. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shrinkable tubing 20 is initially secured to shank end 12 through the localized application of energy to tubing 20 in the region surrounding shank end 12. After tubing 20 has been brought into engagement with shank end 12 tip region 31 of suture 30 is inserted into tubing 20 and additional energy is applied thereto. Sequential shrinkage of tubing 20 makes it possible to vary the amount of energy used in securing tubing 20 to shank end 12 and suture tip region 31 respectively, and to limit the exposure of suture 30 to energy during the attachment process. It may also be desirable to cool suture 30 in the region outside tubing 20 to prevent any undesirable degradation thereof, e.g., with a cold air curtain. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the shrinkage of tubing 20 typically compresses tip region 31 of spiroid braided suture 30 to some extent, e.g., from 30 to 35% or so.

Shrinkable tubing 20 can be manufactured from any material which shrinks, i.e., reduces in diameter, in response to the application of energy. Suitable materials include "memory metals," e.g., nickel-titanium mixtures, nickel-iron-titanium mixtures, or copper based materials, as are well known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3759552 3801954 4198081 and 4773680) and shrinkable plastic materials such as polyolefins. Shrinkable polyvinylidene fluoride materials available from Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park, Calif. under the tradename Kynar have been used with generally good results. Where shrinkable plastic materials are employed, the tubing is typically extruded so that its inner diameter will be less than the final desired inner diameter, i.e., the inner diameter of the tubing following the application of energy which results in shrinkage of the tubing. Following extrusion, the tubing is expanded radially outward through radial expansion means to provide tubing 20 of FIG. 1. Such plastic tubing is thus adapted to shrink, contract, or "recover", to its original extruded inner diameter in response to the application of a predetermined amount of energy.

The amount of energy applied to the tubing to effect the desired attachment, i.e., diameter reduction, depends upon the chemical characteristics of the tubing material, the relative dimensions of the tubing, the shank end of the needle and the suture, and the desired pull-out force for the resulting combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device. For example, one polyvinylidene fluoride material available from Raychem Corporation (RT-850) shrinks at temperatures greater than 175.degree. C., and is adapted to recover to about 50% of its radially expanded inner diameter. In such case, tubing 20 may be brought into engagement with shank end 12 of needle 10 and suture tip region 31 either simultaneously or sequentially, by heatinq tubing 20 to a temperature above 175.degree. C. Tubing 20 may be heated through contact with a hot gas stream or with heated dies, or by other heating means. Typically, the outer diameters of shank end 12 and suture tip region 31 are greater than the fully recovered diameter of tubing 20 e.g., greater than 50% of the initial inner diameter of tubing 20 for the RT-850 material, such that tubing 20 engages shank end 12 and suture tip region 31. This engagement provides the combined surgical needle-spiroid braided suture device of the present invention.

As noted above, the attachment method of the present invention may be easily used to effect both standard needle attachment and detachable needle attachment. Preferably, the pull-out force of a given needle-suture combination is controlled through control of the energy source. Thus, using the identical inventories of needles, spiroid braided sutures and tubings, it is possible to produce either standard or detachable needle products through simple energy variations. In the case of detachable needle attachment, it is preferred that the attachment conditions be controlled such that the tubing remains secured to the needle once the suture is detached.

The needle-suture attachment method of the present invention has many advantages over previous attachment methods. Machining of the needle to provide a reduced diameter needle shank is much easier and more controllable than bore drilling operations and therefore permits the use of needle alloys which have previously been impractical, e.g., Series 300 stainless steel and quaternary alloys such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3767385 referred to above. These heretofore impractical alloys have advantageous strength and ductility characteristics as compared to conventionally used Series 400 stainless steels. Moreover, an unreliable, expensive and maintenance-intensive swaging process is replaced by a sterile, controllable and relatively inexpensive energy supply. The tubing used in the present invention may be color coded to designate suture material, standard versus detachable attachment, etc., particularly where a plastic tubing is employed.

The attachment method of the present invention is also much more efficient from a processing and inventory control standpoint. For example, the tubing may be removed from a needle and the needle attached to a fresh suture, e.g., in instances where the suture and/or attachment properties of the initial suture-needle combination are outside specifications. In many instances, the suture may also be recovered and reused, thereby greatly reducing processing waste. The range of acceptable suture diameters is greatly expanded due to the ability of the tubing to recover or shrink to varying degrees, thereby minimizing the likelihood that suture production will be rejected for inability to attach needles thereto. A single tubing size may be used to attach several needle sizes because the shrinkable tubing is capable of recovering or shrinking to varying degrees. This greatly simplifies inventory considerations.

Needle-suture combinations produced according to the present invention are atraumatic and advantageously exhibit flexibility in the attachment region. Both standard needle attachment and detachable needle attachment products may be produced with great processing ease.

In the description of spiroid braided suture component 30 which follows, the term "suture" is intended to embrace both the non-absorbable as well as the bioabsorbable varieties, the expressions "spiroid braid" and "spiroid braided" refer to a solid arrangement of discrete units, or bundles, denominated "yarns", made up of individual filaments or fibers with the yarns arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suture and internally engaging each other in a repetitive spiral pattern and the term "solid" is intended to designate a suture in which the filamentous material of its construction occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional areas of the suture with at most a minor percentage, not exceeding about 25% in the larger suture sizes, of such area constituting void spaces or interstices between adjacent yarns and fibers, such a construction contrasting with that of a standard suture which, in the absence of a core component, possesses a lumen representing a significant percentage of the cross-sectional area of the suture.

The term "standard suture" is intended to designate any of the heretofore known braided sutures, e.g., those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3565077 the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, and in particular, braided suture products marketed by Ethicon, Inc. under its Vicryl brand and those marketed by the Davis & Geck Division of American Cyanamid Company under its Dexon brand.

Spiroid braided suture component 30 can be fabricated from a wide variety of natural and synthetic fibrous materials such as any of those heretofore disclosed for the construction of sutures. Such materials include non-absorbable as well as partially and fully bio-absorbable (i.e., resorbable) natural and synthetic fiber-forming polymers. Non-absorbable materials which are suitable for fabricating the spiroid braided suture of this invention include silk, polyamides, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene, polypropylene, silk, cotton, linen, etc. Carbon fibers, steel fibers and other biologically acceptable inorganic fibrous materials can also be employed. Bio-absorbable resins from which the spiroid suture can be fabricated include those derived from glycolic acid, glycolide, lactic acid, lactide, diosanone, epsilon-caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, etc., and various combinations of these and related monomers. Sutures prepared from resins of this type are known in the art, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2668162; 2703316; 2748987; 3225766; 3297033; 3422181; 3531561; 3565077; 3565869; 3620218; 3262948; 3636956; 3736646; 3772420; 3773919; 3792010; 3797499; 3839297; 3867190; 3787284; 3982543; 4047533; 4060089; 4137921; 4157437; 4234775; 4237920; 4300565; and, 4523591; U.K. Patent No. 779291; D. K. Gilding et al., "Biodegradable polymers for use in surgery--polyglycolic/poly(lactic acid) homo- and co-polymers": 1 Polymer, Volume 20 pages 1459-1464 (1979), and D. F. Williams (ed.), Biocompatibility of Clinical Implant Materials, Vol. II, ch. 9: "Biodegradable Polymers" (1981).

The defining characteristics of a specific embodiment of spiroid braided suture 30 apart from the material of its construction, are:

(1) suture size (i.e., suture diameter)

(2) overall suture denier;

(3) the pattern of the interlocking yarns'

(4) pick count;

(5) the number of yarns comprising the braid; and,

(6) the denier of the filaments comprising each yarn; and,

(7) the denier of the core, where present.

(1) Suture Size (i.e., Suture Diameter)

The suture size can be expressed in terms of standard sizes, corresponding to certain ranges of diameter (in millimeters), as set forth in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP). Standard sizes of the spiroid braided suture herein are set forth in Table I as follows:

TABLE I ______________________________________ SUTURE SIZE USP Suture Size Diameter (mm) ______________________________________ 2 0.50-0.599 1 0.40-0.499 0 (1/0) 0.35-0.399 2/0 0.30-0.399 3/0 0.20-0.249 4/0 0.15-0.199 5/0 0.10-0.149 6/0 0.070-0.099 7/0 0.050-0.069 8.0 0.040-0.049 ______________________________________

(2) Overall Denier of the Suture

The overall denier of the braided suture can vary from about 50 to about 4000. Within this range, the ranges of overall denier for particular sutures are: from about 20 to about 125 denier; from above about 200 to about 300 denier; from above about 300 to about 500 denier; from above about 500 to about 800 denier; from above about 800 to about 1500 denier; from above about 1500 to about 2000 denier; and from above about 2000 to about 3600 denier.

(3) Pattern of the Interlocking Yarns

Unlike a tubular braided structure where the yarns form a criss-cross pattern which may be thought of as confined to the surface of a hollow cylinder, the spiroid braided suture of this invention consists of a pattern of interlocking yarns which may be considered as extending from the surface of a cylinder to its center thus providing a substantially solid structure as defined above.

The characteristic pattern of a spiroid braided suture is clearly different from that of a tubular braided suture. In the former, the yarns are essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suture whereas in the latter, the yarns cross over each other at some angle to the longitudinal axis of the suture. The structural differences between a spiroid braided suture of this invention and a tubular braided suture are clearly evident from a comparison of the linear and cross-sectional views of a spiroid braided suture (FIGS. 4-8) and a tubular braided suture (FIGS. 9 and 10).

(4) Pick Count

Pick count is the number of stitches per inch lying in a single line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suture as viewed from the surface of the suture. Suitable pick counts can vary from about 10 to about 80 stitches/inch and preferably from about 20 to about 60 stitches/inch.

(5) The Number of Yarns

The number of yarns employed in the construction of the suture bears some relation to overall suture denier, the number of yarns generally increasing with the weight of the suture. Thus, across the range of suture weight (denier) indicated above, the spiroid braided suture of this invention can be fabricated with from about 6 up to as many as about 30 individual yarns constructed from individual filaments having the deniers discussed below.

Table II below sets forth broad and preferred ranges for the numbers of yarns which are suitable for the construction of spiroid braided sutures of various ranges of overall denier. The deniers of individual filaments in a yarn can vary from about 0.2 to about 6.0 for the broad range of number of yarns and the deniers of individual filaments can vary from about 0.8 to about 3.0 and advantageously from about 1.0 to about 1.8 for the preferred range of number of yarns.

TABLE II ______________________________________ NUMBER OF YARNS RELATED TO SUTURE DENIER Overall Suture Suture Number of Yarns Number of Yarns Denier Size (Broad Range) (Preferred Range) ______________________________________ from about 7/0 6-12 3-6 50 to about 125 8/0 greater than about 6/0 6-15 6-12 125 to about 200 greater than about 5/0 6-15 6-12 200 to about 300 greater than about 4/0 6-15 9-12 300 to about 500 greater than about 3/0 9-20 12-15 500 to about 800 greater than about 2/0 12-25 15-20 800 to about 1200 greater than about 0 12-25 15-20 1200 to about 2000 greater than about 1/2 15-25 20-25 2000 to about 4000 ______________________________________

While the yarns need not be twisted, it is generally preferred that they be provided with a slight twist so as to minimize snagging during braid construction.

(6) Individual Filament Denier

The individual filaments comprising each yarn can vary from about 0.2 to about 6.0 denier, preferably from about 1.0 to about 1.8 denier and more preferably from about 0.8 to about 1.4 denier. The number of such filaments present in a particular yarn will depend on the overall denier of the suture as well as the number of yarns utilized in the construction of the suture. Table III sets forth some typical numbers of filaments per yarn for both the broad and preferred ranges of filament weight:

TABLE III ______________________________________ NUMBER OF FILAMENTS PER YARN approximate approximate Filament minimum maximum Denier ______________________________________ 45 1500 0.2 15 500 0.5 5 200 1.5 3 150 1.8 1 50 6.0 ______________________________________

(7) Core (Optional)

For all but the smallest sizes of spiroid braided suture, the suture, although substantially solid in the sense defined above, can optionally contain some small amount of void space, generally not exceeding 25% or so in the larger suture sizes, which, if desired, can be partially or substantially completely filled with a core component. A core may be advantageous where it is desired to increase the density of the suture and/or preserve its roundness. The core, where present, can be monofilamentous or multifilamentous. In the case of the latter, the core itself can be braided or can be provided with some other configuration such as a twist, ply, cable, etc. The filament(s) comprising the core can be fabricated from a material which is the same as, or different from that of the braid. The core filament(s) can also possess a denier which is the same as, or is different from, that of the braid filaments.

Table IV below provides some typical core deniers for suture of various deniers:

TABLE IV ______________________________________ CORE DENIER RELATED TO SUTURE DENIER Maximum Maximum Denier of Denier of Overall Suture Suture Optional Core Optional Core Denier Size (Broad Range) (Preferred Range) ______________________________________ from about 8/0 none none 50 to about 125 7/0 greater than about 6/0 25-40 10-20 125 to about 200 greater than about 5/0 40-60 30-50 200 to about 300 greater than about 4/0 60-100 30-50 300 to about 500 greater than about 3/0 125-200 75-120 500 to about 800 greater than about 2/0 200-300 120-180 800 to about 1200 greater than about 0 300-500 180-300 1200 to about 2000 greater than about 1 2 500-1000 300-600 2000 to about 4000 ______________________________________

It is to be understood that Table IV merely sets forth suitable maximum core deniers where a core is present. The actual core denier for a given suture can be substantially less than the indicated maximum.

When spiroid braided suture component 30 is fabricated from a material which is susceptible to hydrolysis, e.g., any of the absorbable resins previously mentioned, care must be taken to rigorously exclude moisture from contacting the suture during storage or to otherwise preserve the suture from excessive hydrolytic attack which would compromise its in vivo strength to the point where the suture would no longer be serviceable.

According to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3728839 and 4135622 the in vivo strength of polyglycolic acid surgical elements such as sutures undergoes significant deterioration on long term standing in the package even on exposure of the contents to very small amounts of water for very short periods of time, e.g., 20 minutes or less, just prior to packaging due to the tendency of a moisture impervious package to seal the moisture in with the suture. To prevent or minimize the extent of hydrolytic degradation of an absorbable suture during storage expressed, for example, as a reduction in out-of-package tensile strength, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3728839 and 4135622 disclose removing moisture from the suture before sealing the package so that no more than about 0.5 percent of water by weight of suture remains in the package once the package is sealed. This approach to improving the suture's storage stability, while effective, is in practice difficult and expensive to carry out. Prior to sealing the suture within its moisture impervious package, it is essential that the suture be "bone dry", a condition achieved by heating the suture for a sufficient period to remove the water therefrom, e.g., 180.degree.-188.degree. for 1 hour under a 26 inch vacuum. However, once the water is removed, the suture cannot be allowed to contact a moisture-containing environment even for a limited duration since as previously noted, even brief exposure to moisture can cause severe deterioration of suture in vivo strength. It therefore becomes necessary following the water removal step to temporarily store the suture in a dry area, i.e., an environment which is essentially free of moisture, where the possibility of contact with moisture is largely eliminated. These operations for improving the storage stability of an absorbable suture are time consuming, expensive and constitute a relatively complex solution to the storage stability problem.

In an entirely different approach to improving the storage stability of an absorbable suture, one that avoids the foregoing drawbacks associated with the method of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3728839 and 4135622 the storage stability of an absorbable spiroid braided suture which is susceptible to hydrolysis is improved by applying to the suture a storage stabilizing amount of at least one water soluble liquid polyhydroxy compound and/or ester thereof. In addition to imparting an enhanced degree of storage stability to the suture, practice of this embodiment of the present invention confers other benefits as well. So, for example, a spiroid braided suture which has been filled with a storage stabilizing amount of, e.g., glycerol, exhibits better flexibility and "hand" characteristics than the untreated suture. Moreover, since the polyhydroxy compounds are generally capable of dissolving a variety of medico-surgically useful substances, they can be used as vehicles to deliver such substances to a wound or surgical site at the time the suture is introduced into the body.

The useful storage stabilizing agents are generally selected from the water soluble, liquid polyhydroxy compounds and/or esters of such compounds, preferably those having no appreciable toxicity for the body at the levels present. The expression "liquid polyhydroxy compound" contemplates those polyhydroxy compounds which in the essentially pure state are liquids, as opposed to solids, at or about ambient temperature, e.g., at from about 15.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C. The preferred polyhydroxy compounds possess up to about 12 carbon atoms and where the esters are concerned, are preferably the monoesters and diesters. Among the specific storage stabilizing agents which can be used with generally good results are glycerol and its mono- and diesters derived from low molecular weight carboxylic acids, e.g., monoacetin and diacetin (respectively, glyceryl monoacetate and glyceryl diacetate), ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 13-propanediol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, and the like. Glycerol is especially preferred. Mixtures of storage stabilizing agents, e.g., sorbitol dissolved in glycerol, glycerol combined with monoacetin and/or diacetin, etc., are also useful.

To prevent or minimize run-off or separation of the storage stabilizing agent from the suture, a tendency to which relatively low viscosity compounds such as glycerol are especially prone, it can be advantageous to combine the agent with a thickener. Many kinds of pharmaceutically acceptable non-aqueous thickeners can be utilized including water-soluble polysaccharides, e.g., hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and the other materials of this type which are disclosed in European Patent Application 0 267 015 referred to above, polysaccharide gums such as guar, xanthan, and the like, gelatin, collagen, etc. An especially preferred class of thickeners are the saturated aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acids of up to about 6 carbon atoms and the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts and hydrates thereof. Within this preferred class of compounds are those corresponding to the general formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, R' is a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal and n is 0 or 1 and hydrates thereof. Specific examples of such compounds include salts of lactic acid such as calcium lactate and potassium lactate, sodium lactate, salts of glycolic acid such as calcium glycolate, potassium glycolate and sodium glycolate, salts of 3-hydroxy propanoic acid such as the calcium, potassium and sodium salts thereof, salts of 3-hydroxybutanoic acid such as calcium, potassium and sodium salts thereof, and the like. As stated hereinbefore, hydrates of these compounds can also be used. Calcium lactate, especially calcium lactate pentahydrate, is a particularly preferred thickener.

Where a thickener is utilized, it will be incorporated in the filling composition in at least that amount required to increase the overall viscosity of the storage stabilizing agent to the point where the agent no longer readily drains away from the suture in a relatively short period. In the case of a preferred storage stabilizing agent-thickener combination, namely, glycerol and calcium lactate, the weight ratio of glycerol to calcium lactate can vary from about 1:1 to about 10:1 and preferably is from about 6:1 to 8:1.

If necessary or desirable, the storage stabilizing agent together with optional thickener can be dissolved in any suitable non-aqueous solvent or combination of solvents prior to use. To be suitable, the solvent must (1) be miscible with the storage stabilizing agent and optional thickener, if present (2) have a sufficiently high vapor pressure to be readily removed by evaporation, (3) not appreciably affect the integrity of the suture and (4) be capable of wetting the surface of the suture. Applying these criteria to a preferred storage stabilizing agent, glycerol, advantageously in admixture with a preferred thickener, calcium lactate, lower alcohols such as methanol and ethanol are entirely suitable solvent carriers. when a solvent is utilized in the preparation of the stabilizing agent, e.g., methanol, such solvent can be employed in amounts providing a solution concentration of from about 20% to about 50%, preferably about 30% to about 45%, by weight of the storage stabilizing agent including any optional thickener.

Preparing the storage stabilizing agent for application to the suture is a relatively simple procedure. For example, in the case of a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, the desired amount of glycerol is first introduced to a suitable vessel followed by the addition thereto of the desired amount of calcium lactate. If no solvent is to be used, the mixture is then thoroughly mixed. Where a solvent such as methanol is employed, the solvent is added to the mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate and the solution is then thoroughly mixed to dissolve the compounds.

Application of the storage stabilizing agent to the suture can be carried out in any number of ways. Thus, for example, the suture can be submerged in the storage stabilizing agent or solution thereof until at least a storage stabilizing amount of agent is acquired or otherwise retained by the suture, even after the optional removal of any excess agent and/or accompanying solvent (if present) such as by drainage, wiping, evaporation, etc. In many cases, contact times on the order of from just a few seconds, e.g., about 10 seconds or so, to several hours, e.g., about 2 hours and even longer, are sufficient to impart a substantial improvement in the storage stability of the treated suture compared to the same suture which has not been treated with storage stabilizing agent. It has been found that calendering the suture prior to filling, such as by passing the suture through at least two pairs of transversely mounted calender rolls, improves receptivity of the suture to filling and improves the suppleness of the resulting filled suture. It is believed that calendering the suture separates the individual suture filaments to open up spaces therebetween which are conducive to ensuring that the filling composition penetrates within, and fills, the interstices of the braided suture.

The foregoing submersion method of contacting the suture with storage stabilizing agent can be conducted continuously or in batch. Thus, a running length of the suture can be continuously passed through a quantity of stabilizing agent at a velocity which has been previously determined to provide the necessary degree of exposure, or contact time, of the suture with the storage stabilizing agent. As the suture emerges from the storage stabilizing agent, it can be passed through a wiper or similar device to remove excess agent prior to the packaging operation. Preferably, the suture is passed through a coating head supplied by a metering pump with a constant supply of filling solution, with the suture emerging from the coating head and passing through an evaporation oven to remove the filling solution solvent prior to any further surface contact, i.e., with rollers, etc. In a batch operation, a quantity of suture is merely submerged within the storage stabilizing agent for the requisite period of time with any excess agent being removed from the suture if desired.

Alternatively, the storage stabilizing agent and solutions thereof can be applied to the suture by spraying, brushing, wiping, etc. such that the suture receives and retains at least a storage stabilizing amount of the agent. Yet another procedure which can be used to apply the storage stabilizing agent involves inserting suture in a package containing an effective amount of the agent such that intimate contact between the suture and the agent is achieved.

Whatever the contacting procedure employed, it is necessary that the suture being treated acquire a storage stabilizing amount of the storage stabilizing agent. In general, amounts of from about 2 to about 25 and preferably from about 5 to about 15 weight percent of storage stabilizing agent(s) (exclusive of any solvent) by weight of the suture contacted therewith is sufficient to provide significantly improved storage stability compared to that of the untreated suture.

As previously pointed out, a filled spiroid braided suture component in accordance with the invention need not be packaged and maintained under the very dry conditions required for prior synthetic absorbable sutures. Instead, it is preferred that the filled sutures be equilibrated so that the level of moisture or other stabilizing agent solvent is sufficient to result in an appropriate viscosity level for the stabilizing agent and thickener in order to keep the stabilizing agent on the suture. In the preferred embodiment of a braided suture filled with a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, the moisture level may be equilibrated to as low as about 0.2% by weight of the suture, and is preferably above 0.3% or, even more preferably, above 0.5% by weight of the suture.

Indeed, it has been found that a spiroid braided suture filled with a glycerol/calcium lactate composition tends to undergo undesirable changes if exposed to a very dry environment. More particularly, if such a filled suture is exposed to a very dry environment, the surface of the suture may accumulate a flaked or powdered substance which could possibly interfere with, or render more difficult, the removal of the suture from its package. Equilibrating the filled suture, such as in a dew point controlled environment, so that the suture contains a relatively high moisture level, e.g., in excess of 0.2% and preferably in excess of 0.5% by weight of the suture, prevents such accumulation of flaked or powdered substance which might otherwise result were the suture exposed to an extremely dry environment. Conversely, the presence of too much moisture can also have deleterious effects, such as causing the glycerol filling to run. Therefore, it is preferable to control the moisture level within a range having preset upper and lower limits.

It is also within the scope of this invention to impregnate the spiroid braided suture of this invention with, or otherwise apply thereto, one or more medicosurgically useful substances, e.g., those which accelerate or beneficially modify the healing process when the suture is applied to a wound or surgical site. So, for example, the braided suture herein can be provided with a therapeutic agent which will be deposited at the sutured site. The therapeutic agent can be chosen for its antimicrobial properties, capability for promoting wound repair and/or tissue growth or for specific indications such as thrombosis. Antimicrobial agents such as broad spectrum antibiotics (gentamicin sulphate, erythromycin or derivatized glycopeptides) which are slowly released into the tissue can be applied in this manner to aid in combating clinical and sub-clinical infections in a surgical or trauma wound site.

To promote wound repair and/or tissue growth, one or more biologically active materials known to achieve either or both of these objectives can be applied to the spiroid braided suture of the present invention. Such materials include any of several Human Growth Factors (HGFs), magainin, tissue or kidney plasminogen activator to cause thrombosis, superoxide dismutase to scavenge tissue damaging free radicals, tumor necrosis factor for cancer therapy, colony stimulating factor, interferon, interleukin-2 or other lymphokine to enhance the immune system, and so forth.

The term "Human Growth Factor" or "HGF" embraces those materials, known in the literature, which are referred to as such and includes their biologically active loosely related derivatives. The HGFs can be derived from naturally occurring sources including human and non-human sources, e.g., bovine sources, and are preferably produced by recombinant DNA techniques. Specifically, any of the HGFs which are mitogenically active and as such are effective in stimulating, accelerating, potentiating or otherwise enhancing the wound healing process can be usefully applied to the suture herein, e.g., hEGR (urogastrone), TGF-beta, IGF, PDGD, FGF, etc. These and other useful HGFs and closely related HGF derivatives, methods by which they can be obtained and methods and compositions featuring the use of HGFs to enhance wound healing are variously disclosed, inter alia, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3883497 3917824 3948875 4338397 4418691 4528186 4621052 4743679 4717717 4861757 4874746 and 4944948 European Patent Application Nos. 46039 128733 131868 136490 147178 150572 177915 and 267015 PCT International Applications WP 83/04030 WO 85/003698 WO 85/01284 and WO 86/02271 and UK Patent Applications GB 2 092 155 A, 2 162 851 A and GB 2 172 890 A, and, "Growth Factors in Wound Healing", Lynch et al., J. Clin. Invest., Vol. 84 pages 640-645 (August 1989), all of which are incorporated by reference herein. Of the known HGFs, hEGFm, TFG-beta, IGF, PDGF and FGF are preferred, either singly or in combination.

In a preferred embodiment of spiroid braided suture component 30 a filling composition comprising a surgical wound healing enhancing amount of at least one HGF and as carrier therefor at least one water soluble, liquid polyhydroxy compound and/or ester thereof is applied to the suture. The carrier protects the HGF component of the filling composition from excessive degradation or loss of biopotency during storage and as disclosed above, when the suture is fabricated from an absorbable resin which is susceptible to hydrolysis, the carrier improves the storage stability of the suture as well. In addition to carrier, the HGF can contain a thickener such as any of those previously mentioned in order to reduce the tendency of carrier run-off.

The filling composition can contain one or more additional components which promote or enhance the wound healing effectiveness of the HGF component. Thus, e.g., site-specific hybrid proteins can be incorporated in the filling composition to maximize the availability of the HGF at the wound site and/or to potentiate wound healing. See e.g , Tomlinson (Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals, West Sussex, U.LK.), "Selective Delivery and Targeting of Therapeutic Proteins", a paper presented at a symposium held June 12-14 1989 in Boston, Mass., the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. The HGFs can also be associated with carrier proteins (CPs), e.g., in the form of CP-bound HFG(s), to further enhance availability of the HGF(s) at a wound site as disclosed in "Carrier Protein-Based Delivery of Protein Pharmaceuticals", a paper of BioGrowth, Inc., Richmond, Calif. presented at the aforementioned symposium, the contents of said paper being incorporated by reference herein. The HGFs can also be incorporated in liposomes to provide for their release over an extended period. Lactate ion can be present to augment the wound healing activity of the HFG. Protectants for the HGF can also be utilized, e.g., polyethylene glycols, acetoxyphenoxy polyethoxy ethanols, polyoxyethylene sorbitans, dextrans, albumin, poly-D-alanyl peptides and N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide (HPMA).

The amounts of HGF, carrier and optional component(s) such as thickener, site-specific hybrid protein, carrier protein, etc., identified above can vary widely and in general will be at least that amount of a particular component which is required to perform its respective function in an effective way. Those skilled in the art employing known or conventional procedures can readily determine optimum amounts of each component for a particular filling composition and particular spiroid braided suture filled therewith.

In general, the HGF(s) can be present in the total composition at a level ranging from about 0.1 to about 25000 micrograms per gram of such composition, preferably from about 0.5 to about 10000 micrograms per gram of composition and most preferably from about 1 to about 5000 micrograph per gram of composition.

Application of the HGF-containing composition to the spiroid braided suture of this invention can be carried out by any suitable technique, e.g., by any of the procedures described above for applying a storage stabilizing agent to the suture.

It can also be advantageous to apply one or more coating compositions to spiroid braided suture component 30 where particular functional properties are desired. For example, the suture can be coated with a material which improves its surface lubricity and/or knot tie-down characteristics. Suitable materials which impart either or both characteristics include the bioabsorbable coating compositions obtained by copolymerizing in accordance with known procedures (1) a polyether glycol selected from the group consisting of relatively low molecular weight polyalkylene glycol, e.g., one corresponding to the general formula HO(RO).sub.y H wherein R is an alkylene group of from 2-4 carbon atoms and y is an integer of from about 100-350 and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer, e.g., one corresponding to the general formula H(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.x (OC.sub.3 H.sub.6).sub.y (OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.z OH wherein x is an integer of from about 45-90 y is an integer of from about 60-85 and z is an integer of from about 45-90 with (2) a mixture of lactide monomer and glycolide monomer or a preformed copolymer of lactide and glycolide, the weight ratio of (1) to (2) preferably ranging from about 4:1 to about 1:4 and more preferably from about 2:1 to about 1:2. The ratio of lactide to glycolide in the monomer mixture or in the copolymer of these monomers preferably varies from about 65-90 mole percent lactide and 10-35 mole percent glycolide. Polyether glycols having molecular weights of about 3500-25000 and preferably from about 4000-10000 and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymers having molecular weights of from about 5000-10000 and preferably from about 7500 to about 9000 e.g., those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2674619 3036118 4043344 and 4047533 and commercially available as the Pluronics (BASF-Wyandotte). Where preformed copolymers of lactide and glycolide are employed in preparing the bioabsorbable coating compositions, they may be prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4523591. The amounts of bioabsorbable coating composition to be applied to the suture, e.g., by coating, dipping, spraying or other appropriate technique, will vary depending upon the specific construction of the suture, it size and the material of its construction. In general, the coating composition applied to an unfilled suture will constitute from about 1.0 to about 3.0 percent by weight of the coated suture, but the amount of coating add on may range from as little as about 0.5 percent, by weight, to as much as 4.0 percent or higher. For a preferred filling (i.e. containing a storage stabilizing agent) braided suture, amounts of coating composition will generally vary from about 0.5% to 2.0% with as little as 0.2% to as much as 3.0%. As a practical matter and for reasons of economy and general performance, it is generally preferred to apply the minimum amount of coating composition consistent with good surface lubricity and/or knot tie-down characteristics and this level of coating add on is readily determined experimentally for any particular suture.