US Patent:
20050234511, Oct 20, 2005
Inventors:
Brian Cuevas - Middletown CT, US
Frank Schiretz - Middletown CT, US
Michael Prescott - Hamden CT, US
Matthew Cohen - Berlin CT, US
Robert DeSantis - Redding CT, US
International Classification:
A61B017/04
Abstract:
A suture tester for evaluating fray resistance of surgical sutures. The suture tester comprises a reciprocating drive member, first, second, third and fourth pulleys, and a tensioning element. The pulleys each have a suture contact surface, which define a single plane. The third pulley is rotatable about this single plane. The first, second and third pulleys are all movable on the single plane. A suture is mounted in the suture tester such that one end is attached to the reciprocating drive member, it then passes to the first pulley, to the third pulley, to the second pulley and to the fourth pulley, before attaching to the tensioning element at the other end of the suture. The third pulley is then rotated and locked into place to form the desired number of suture wraps. The suture tester is started and causes the suture to rub against itself until it fails.