Lawrence Welk, the bandleader who entertained millions of Americans over a generation of broadcasting his TV show, once received a patent: for a music-themed design of an ashtray.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8162993 | Methods of anterior fixation and stabilization of a spinal segment Methods for spinal stabilization operative to prevent lateral bending, extension, and rotation across two or more adjacent vertebrae are described. Broadly, the method includes placing two or more anchors at each vertebral level, passing one or more sutures through ... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8152835 | Methods for the placement of sutures in tissue A method for the placement of sutures in tissue prior to forming an opening in the tissue, the sutures for use in closing the opening, the method includes the steps of passing a first length of suture through a first portion of a tissue in a first direction relative... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8142475 | Adhesive suture structure and methods of using the same According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical suture needle assembly is provided including an elongate tube defining a lumen through at least a portion of a length thereof; and a wound treatment material contained within the lumen of the suture struct... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8128656 | Device for creating and maintaining infusion passages in tissue Methods and devices are disclosed for the in-vivo creation and maintenance of contiguous fluid passages in tissue through the use of tissue buttressing portions with interrupted perimeter walls. These portions can be formed from hollow fiber or extruded components. ... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8118834 | Composite self-retaining sutures and method A self-retaining suture comprises a composite filament. The filament has retainers on the surface such that the filament can engage and retain tissue without knots. The filament comprises at least two materials having different properties. A surface material of the ... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8100941 | Collapsible barbed sutures having reduced drag and methods therefor A barbed suture includes a flexible thread having a leading end and a trailing end, and a plurality of barbs projecting from the flexible thread. The flexible thread has a plurality of web-like openings formed therein, whereby each of the openings is disposed adjace... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8100940 | Barb configurations for barbed sutures A barbed suture for connecting tissue, and a combination surgical needle with a barbed suture. The suture includes an elongated body and a plurality of barbs projecting from the body. Each barb causes the suture to resist movement in an opposite direction from which... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8088146 | High-strength suture A surgical suture is made of an elongate, hollow braid of high strength fibers. The braid defines an elongate, longitudinally-extending, central chamber that is open and without any core material extending therein so that, when a surgeon's knot is tied with the sutu... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8048111 | Expanded PTFE articles and method of making same Unique PTFE structures comprising islands of PTFE attached to an underlying expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) structure and to methods of making such structures is disclosed. The ePTFE material may or may not have been exposed to amorphous locking temperature... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8043332 | Surgical cable providing visual indication of tension A cable in accordance with the invention includes at least one core filament having a visually distinctive appearance; and a jacket, wrapped around at least a portion of said core filament. The jacket is adapted to change its opacity in response to tensile stress, t... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8012171 | High strength suture with PBO A high strength abrasion resistant surgical suture material with improved tie down characteristics and tissue compliance includes poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO). The suture features a multifilament jacket formed of braided strands of PBO, optionally wit... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8012173 | Surgical suture material with an antimicrobial surface and process for providing an antimicrobial coating on surgical suture material A surgical suture material with an antimicrobial surface is described, the surface exhibiting a coating containing a) at least one fatty acid, b) octenidine dichloride and/or dequalinium chloride and c) optionally oligomeric lactic acid esters. In addition, a proces... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8012172 | High strength suture with coating and colored trace A high strength abrasion resistant surgical suture material with improved tie down characteristics is color coded for visualization and identification purposes. The suture features a multifilament cover formed of strands of ultra high molecular weight long chain pol... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7967841 | Methods for using looped tissue-grasping devices A method for repairing friable tissue having a defect therein includes providing a looped barbed suture having a plurality of barbs extending outwardly therefrom along at least a portion of a length thereof, and having first and second ends, first and second end por... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7892256 | High strength suture tape A suture tape construct is made of braided high strength surgical suture material. A length of round braided suture extends along the entire length of the suture tape. A middle portion of the suture tape features a flat braid added to the round braided suture. The s... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7892255 | Tissue connector apparatus and methods Tissue connector assemblies having at least two piercing members, each releaseably coupled to a surgical fastener such as a surgical clip. A flexible member such as a suture may be used to couple one or both piercing members to respective ends of the fastener. ... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7875055 | Active suture for the delivery of therapeutic fluids An active suture that can be used for the delivery of therapeutic fluids to the tissue surrounding a wound is disclosed. The active suture may include a connector designed to join a fluid source, such as a syringe, conventional IV delivery system, or infusion pump t... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7862583 | Fusible suture and method for suturing therewith The present invention relates to a fusible suture for joining portions of tissue. The suture includes an elongate electrical conductor. The conductor extends between opposite ends of the suture and has sufficient flexibility to permit segments of the conductor to ov... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7857829 | Suture method A method is provided for performing a procedure to reposition a portion of a breast using a suture including a plurality of barbs. The barbs on a first portion of the suture adjacent a first end of the suture permit movement of the suture through tissue in a directi... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7837708 | Accelerated healing with intraoperative combination of suture and autogenous blood components A suture combined intraoperatively with autogenous blood components. At least one strand of suture is placed into a sterile container. Blood obtained from a patient is separated, using a centrifuge, for example, to retrieve certain healing components such as autogen... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7740646 | Adhesives for use with suture system minimize tissue erosion A design for a suture for use in suture appositioning techniques, and a method for use are disclosed. In one embodiment the suture may comprise a hollow length having a wall forming a lumen, which may serve as a conduit through which fluid may be pumped and discharg... | 06/22/2010 |
| 7601164 | Surgical thread A surgical thread for plastic surgery operations includes a clear section and multiple sharp projections on either side of the clear section. The clear section is devoid of projections while the projections on both sides of the clear section are inclined toward the ... | 10/13/2009 |
| 7582105 | Suture for wound closure, tissue approximation, tissue support, suspension and/or fixation A suture assembly includes an elongated flexible body which may be either a single filament for a multiple strand braided or woven body, supporting a plurality of shaped tissue-engaging elements in a generally spaced arrangement thereon. A curved body having a sharp... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7547316 | Method and apparatus for adjusting flexible areal polymer implants A minimally invasive approach to adjusting the amount of support on an anatomical structure. The methods and apparatus described include the use of a tape for supporting an anatomical structure. Adjustment may be achieved by use of bulking agents applied either dire... | 06/16/2009 |
| 7468068 | Suture for wound closure, tissue approximation, tissue support, suspension and/or fixation A suture assembly includes an elongated flexible body supporting a plurality of frusto-conically shaped tissue-engaging elements in a generally spaced arrangement thereon. A curved body having a sharp point is joined to one end of the flexible body while a straight ... | 12/23/2008 |
| 7390332 | Methods and devices for repairing tissue A suture anchor system for repairing torn or damaged tissue is provided and generally includes a first suture anchor having at least one length of suture attached thereto, and a second suture anchor having at least one length of suture attached thereto. Each length ... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7378144 | Oriented polymer implantable device and process for making same A device is formed by the process into a bone screw or fastener, wherein the head has a degree of polymer alignment and strength, and wherein the shank has a higher degree of polymer alignment and strength. In practice of the present invention, the polymer slug is p... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7371253 | Suture anchor and method A suture anchor for approximating tissue to bone comprises an anchor member for securing the suture anchor to the bone and a plurality of sutures mounted to the anchor member so that the sutures extend outwardly from the anchor member. Each suture has a sharp pointe... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7357810 | High strength suture with absorbable core and suture anchor combination A novel high tensile strength semi-absorbable composite suture with minimized non-absorbable mass. The suture has a core made from a bioabsorbable polymer. The core is covered by a braided sheath. The braided sheath is made from an absorbable yarn and a bioabsorbabl... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7338530 | Stent A biliary stent has a number of smooth-surfaced wings extending radially outwardly from a central region and extending longitudinally along substantially the entire length of the stent. A securement barb is located at one end of the stent and extends generally radia... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7329263 | Method and device for securing body tissue A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7329271 | High strength suture with absorbable core A novel high tensile strength semi-absorbable composite suture with minimized non-absorbable mass. The suture has a core made from a bioabsorbable polymer. The core is covered by a braided sheath. The braided sheath is made from an absorbable yarn and a bioabsorbabl... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7326247 | Method for creating a double bundle ligament orientation in a single bone tunnel during knee ligament reconstruction A method and construct for joint repair in which attachment of a double bundle graft ligament approximates anatomic orientation using interference fixation in a single bone tunnel. The double bundle graft features separable strands. A threaded screw is inserted betw... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7326213 | Systems for securing sutures, grafts and soft tissue to bone and periosteum Devices for affixing sutures, grafts and tissues to bone, and soft tissue such as periosteum. Such devices are designed to be deployed and selectively positioned at a target site and remain seated thereat. The devices are further provided with attachment structures ... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7318833 | PFO closure device with flexible thrombogenic joint and improved dislodgement resistance The present invention provides devices for closing septal defects, such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The closure devices include a proximal anchor member, a distal anchor member, and at least one flexible center joint connecting the two anchor members. According... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7311399 | Method of making a thermoplastic-based article and a thermoplastic-based article made thereby An article, such as a lens article (10, 10′, 10″, 100) containing a first component, e.g., a filter (14, 14′), or component thereof, having a minimum degradation temperature, and a second component, e.g., a substrate (22, 22′), comprisin... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7294357 | Plasma coated sutures Suture filaments coated by a plasma polymerization process exhibit a good balance of knot run down and knot security characteristics, superior tissue drag characteristics, and improved fray resistance. ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7285124 | Single-tailed suturing method A suture loop is formed in a hollow braided suture by feeding one end of a length of suture through a part in the braid of the suture and into the inner lumen formed by the hollow braid. The braided configuration of the suture allows it to be expanded in diameter by... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7264641 | Polishing pad comprising biodegradable polymer The invention is directed to a polishing pad for use in chemical-mechanical polishing comprising a biodegradable polymer. The biodegradable polymer comprises a repeat unit selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, hydroxyalkanoic acids, hydro... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7238634 | Multiple component spunbond web A multiple component spunbond web is provided in which the spunbond fibers are polymeric sheath-core fibers with a sheath made of a blend of polyethylene and an acid copolymer and a polyester or polyamide core. The spunbond webs can be thermally bonded have an impro... | 07/03/2007 |