Claims
- 1. A method of manufacture for producing a suture toggle from a suture thread having an end segment at a terminal end thereof, and a toggle comprising the steps of:creating at least a partial channel on said toggle; stiffening the suture thread end segment; positioning a portion of the stiffened end segment in said channel; swaging said toggle channel closed about said portion of said stiffened end segment; and, roughening said suture channel in said toggle after said creating step.
- 2. A method of manufacture for producing a suture toggle from a suture thread having an end segment at a terminal end thereof, and a toggle comprising the steps of:creating at least a partial channel on said toggle; stiffening the suture thread end segment; positioning a portion of the stiffened end segment in said channel; swaging said toggle channel closed about said portion of said stiffened end segment; and wherein said stiffening step includes one of cold dipping said suture thread end segment into a polymer and spraying said suture thread end segment with a biocompatible acrylic.
- 3. A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the step of drying said stiffened end segment prior to said positioning step.
- 4. A method of manufacture for producing a suture toggle from a suture thread having an end segment at a terminal end thereof, and a toggle comprising the steps of:creating at least a partial channel on said toggle; stiffening the suture thread end segment; positioning a portion of the stiffened end segment in said channel; swaging said toggle channel closed about said portion of said stiffened end segment; and, coating said toggle and said suture thread end segment with a biocompatible polymer after said swaging step.
- 5. A method of manufacture for producing a suture toggle from a suture thread having an end segment at a terminal end thereof and an elongated toggle having a longitudinal axis comprising the steps of:creating a longitudinal passage through said toggle; forming a lateral hole through said toggle and into said passage; stiffening the suture thread end segment; placing said suture thread in said passage and through said hole such that a portion of the stiffened end segment lies in said passage and protrudes from said hole; swaging the toggle closed about the captured stiffened end segment; and coating said toggle and said portion of said stiffened end segment with a biocompatible material.
- 6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said creating step and said forming step include cutting said toggle with a laser.
- 7. A method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising the step of roughening said toggle after one of said creating step and said forming step.
- 8. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said placing step includes aligning said stiffened end segment and said toggle to define an acute angle therebetween.
- 9. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said stiffening step includes one of cold dipping said suture thread end segment into a polymer and spraying said suture thread end segment with a biocompatible acrylic.
- 10. A method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the step of drying said stiffened end segment prior to said placing step.
- 11. A method of manufacture for producing a suture toggle with a suture thread having an end segment at a terminal end thereof comprising the steps of:providing a mold defining a toggle-shaped cavity and a suture thread-shaped cavity communicating therewith; stiffening the suture thread end segment; positioning said suture thread end segment within said suture thread cavity; molding a toggle onto the positioned suture thread end segment at an acute angle with said mold.
- 12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said acute angle is between 25 degrees and 65 degrees.
- 13. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said stiffening step includes one of cold dipping said suture thread end segment into a polymer and spraying said suture thread end segment with a biocompatible acrylic.
- 14. A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the step of drying said stiffened end segment prior to said attaching step.
- 15. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said mold in said providing step defines a toggle cavity having one of a cylindrical shape, a rectangular shape and a rectangular shape with beveled edges.
- 16. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said positioning step occurs prior to said stiffening step and said stiffening step occurs substantially concurrently with said molding step.
- 17. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said toggle cavity includes a cavity defining a protruding member communicating therewith.
- 18. A method of manufacture for producing a suture toggle with a suture thread having an end segment at a terminal end thereof comprising the steps of:providing a mold defining a toggle-shaped cavity, a suture thread-shaped cavity and a protruding member-shaped cavity, the suture thread and protruding member cavities communicating with the toggle cavity; stiffening the suture thread end segment; positioning said suture thread end segment within said suture thread cavity; and molding a toggle with a protruding member onto the positioned suture thread end segment with said mold.
- 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said molding step includes molding said toggle with said protruding member onto said positioned suture thread end segment at an acute angle.
- 20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein said acute angle is between 25 degrees and 65 degrees.
- 21. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said stiffening step includes one of cold dipping said suture thread end segment into a polymer and spraying said suture thread end segment with a biocompatible acrylic.
- 22. A method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising the step of drying said stiffened end segment prior to said attaching step.
- 23. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said mold in said providing step defines a toggle cavity having one of a cylindrical shape, rectangular shape and a rectangular shape with beveled edges.
- 24. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said positioning step occurs prior to said stiffening step and said stiffening step occurs substantially concurrently with said molding step.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part patent application based upon patent application Ser. No. 09/661,024 filed Sep. 13, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,263 which is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 09/413,145 filed Oct. 6, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,895, which is a regular patent application based upon provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/143,555 filed Jul. 13, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/143555 |
Jul 1999 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/413145 |
Oct 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/661024 |
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US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/661024 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/804764 |
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US |