| 摘要 |
Methods are disclosed for binding together human or animal tissue using one-way sutures having barbs on their exterior surfaces, allowing passage of a needle-drawn suture in one direction through tissue, but not in the opposite direction. In closing a wound, the sutures are passed through tissue at each of the opposed sides of the wound, forming suture pairs in which trailing ends of the sutures are juxtaposed in the wound. The number of suture pairs is selected in accordance with the size of the wound. The wound is closed and ends of the sutures of each suture pair are secured together, which may be by heat bonding or surgical knots. In a variation of this procedure double-armed sutures are used. In another variation detachable needles are used to leave the barbed sutures below the skin. The invention avoids loop stitching, minimizing scarring. In addition to wounds at the skin surface, the method is useful in binding together severed tendons or other internal tissue of a patient, providing considerable tensile strength with a minimum of suturing and locating the tensile support precisely where needed. In facelifts and other cosmetic operations, the sutures are used to provide lines of tissue support beneath the skin. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method for bringing together and holding closed an open wound in human or animal flesh to allow healing and regrowth together of the two sides of the wound, comprising:
(a) in the open wound, inserting a surgical needle into flesh at one side of the wound, penetrating into the flesh wall at the one side, the needle having a base or trailing end secured to a one-way suture which has a series of exterior barbs providing for gripping of the flesh in one direction only, the barbs permitting movement of the suture through the flesh in the direction the needle is inserted, (b) pushing the needle to extend out of the flesh at a point laterally spaced from the wound, then gripping the needle from the point end and pulling the needle out of the flesh, leaving a trailing end of the suture in the open wound, (c) severing the suture from the needle, (d) repeating the procedure of step (a) at the opposite side of the open wound, at a position to form a suture pair of two sutures located across the wound from one another, (e) repeating steps (b) and (c) at said opposite side of the open wound, (f) repeating steps (a) through (e) to form additional suture pairs as necessary at further locations along the wound depending on the size of the wound, (g) bringing the two sides of the wound together, and (h) connecting together trailing ends of the two sutures of each suture pair to bind the wound in a closed position. |
