Importance

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Abstract

A device for guiding a barbed suture into a braider preferably includes an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis that extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the elongated body. The elongated body includes a first channel extending along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and having a first distal opening at the distal end of the elongated body, whereby the said first channel has a first cross-sectional area, and a second channel extending along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and having a second distal opening at the distal end of the elongated body, whereby the second channel has a second cross-sectional area that is different than the first cross-sectional area of the first channel. The device has an elongated slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body that interconnects the first and second channels. A barbed suture is loaded into the elongated body. The barbed suture includes an elongated core having a proximal end, a distal end, a barbed section including barbs extending outwardly from the elongated core, an end effector secured to the proximal end of the elongated core, and an interconnecting segment of the elongated core that is distal to the end effector and proximal to the barbed section. The barbed section of the barbed suture is disposed within the first channel, the end effector of the barbed suture is disposed within the second channel, and the interconnecting segment of said barbed suture extends through the elongated slot.

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First Claim