abstract |
A barbed suture for connecting human or animal tissue, the suture comprising (a) an elongated body having a first end and a second end and a diameter and (b) a plurality of barbs projecting from the body, each barb facing in a direction and being adapted for resisting movement of the suture, when in tissue, in an opposite direction from the direction in which the barb faces, wherein the barbs have a configuration comprising a barb cut distance (P) with a ratio of the barb cut distance (P) to the suture diameter (SD) ranging from about 0.1 to about 6. |