Sutures may be simple, but their design can make or break surgical outcomes. Some patents push this innovation further, and EP3835470B1 is one of them.
This European patent, currently assigned to Syntorr, describes a variable denier yarn specifically designed for surgical sutures. The structure features a stable central segment and a denser transition zone, which enhances tissue grip and thread control. This inventive structure promises better suture performance where it matters most.
While EP3835470B1 is part of a revocation proceeding between Arthrex and Syntorr, this article focuses on the technology, not the litigation.
Using the Global Patent Search (GPS) tool, we explore related inventions and structural concepts in surgical yarns. GPS makes it easier to locate similar patents and analyze how they align with the claims in EP3835470B1.
If you are researching biomaterials or surgical tools, this GPS-based review will guide you through the key concepts behind the patent and potential prior art.
Understanding Patent EP3835470B1
EP3835470B1 discloses a yarn-based innovation for surgical sutures that adapts its physical structure along its length. By engineering variations in denier between segments, the yarn balances flexibility at the ends with strength and stability at the center. This enables more efficient threading, tighter anchoring, and optimized tissue interaction, especially in minimally invasive procedures.
Source: Google Patents
Its Four Key Features Are
#1. Transition zone with gradual denier shift: A defined transition zone between segments allows a smooth change in strand density, improving handling and performance.
#2. Integrated braid design: The yarn strands are braided in a tubular configuration, with some yarn elements running through both segments for strength.
#3. Loose ends in transition zone: Some strands terminate in the transition zone, with their ends aligned obliquely to support a gradual thickness increase.
#4. Overbraid structure: A tubular overbraid may extend along the yarn to maintain uniformity and enhance mechanical durability during use.
This structure helps improve threading, placement, and tissue engagement during surgery. It represents a textile solution built for precision, adaptability, and performance in modern surgical environments. This direction parallels material and textile adaptations seen in wearable health innovations.
Similar Patents As EP3835470B1
To explore the innovation landscape surrounding EP3835470B1, we ran the patent through the Global Patent Search tool. This surfaced related patents that share technical similarities in braided yarn construction, denier customization, and surgical suture engineering.
Below, we highlight four of these references that reflect comparable ideas in controlling suture strength, flexibility, and design structure.
#1. US6045571A
This U.S. patent US6045571A, published in 2000, details a braided suture with adjustable physical properties such as denier, filament count, and pick density. It emphasizes the use of both sheath and core configurations to control cross-sectional shape, tensile strength, and surgical performance.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Core-sheath construction – A braided sheath optionally surrounds a multifilament core to increase tensile performance and maintain circular profile.
- Tailored denier profiles – Provides denier ranges for different suture sizes, including sheath and core configurations.
- Variable braid density – Sheath and core pick counts are optimized for control over flexibility and knot security.
- Material versatility – Compatible with a wide range of suture materials, including polypropylene, polyester, silk, and absorbable polymers.
- Standardized braid patterns – Covers multiple braid configurations for customization based on surgical need.
How It Connects To EP3835470B1
- Both aim to refine suture performance through structural control of fiber denier and construction.
- Each patent uses braiding methods to achieve surgical adaptability in different zones of the yarn.
- Both concepts focus on engineering yarn behavior for strength, smooth threading, and improved tissue interface.
Why This Matters
This reference illustrates how physical properties, such as denier and braid pattern, were already being fine-tuned to enhance surgical sutures. It represents an early example of customizing internal structure for performance, a principle that EP3835470B1 extends with dynamic denier transitions and segment-specific yarn architecture.
#2. US8641732B1
This U.S. patent US8641732B1, published in 2014, describes a self-retaining surgical suture using a variable-dimension filament. The invention focuses on strategically increasing material volume in specific regions to enhance retainer formation while preserving tensile strength.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Variable-dimension filament – Introduces suture threads with non-uniform cross-sections to accommodate mechanical features without weakening the structure.
- Targeted material distribution – Extra material is added where barbs or retainers will be formed to prevent structural thinning.
- Bidirectional retainer layout – Enables directional anchoring by changing retainer orientation along the filament’s length.
- Extrusion plate with adjustable aperture – Uses an iris-like extrusion mechanism to vary filament thickness dynamically during manufacturing.
- Enhanced tensile integrity – The filament maintains or exceeds the minimum cross-sectional area even after material is drawn to form retainers.
How It Connects To EP3835470B1
- Both patents engineer variable material distribution along a filament to deliver function-specific performance.
- Each design supports suture strength and stability through precise control over denier and filament geometry.
- Both reflect a structural adaptation strategy to optimize how sutures interact with surgical tools and tissue.
Why This Matters
This patent highlights a shift toward intelligent suture architecture, where material design supports added functionality. Like EP3835470B1, it moves beyond uniform filament designs to create purpose-built structures optimized for surgical performance and reliability. This shift toward responsive materials aligns with broader innovation trends, including self-healing medical textiles and polymers.
#3. CA2019532A1
This Canadian patent, CA2019532A1, published in 1991, focuses on braided surgical sutures with improved structural balance and tactile feel. It addresses the drawbacks of conventional braided sheath-core combinations by proposing designs that enhance strength distribution and surface smoothness.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Balanced tensile response – Identifies the mismatch between sheath and core tension and proposes improvements for uniform load distribution.
- Reduced filament shifting – Aims to prevent core threads from flattening or migrating within the sheath under tension.
- Minimized tactile roughness – Tackles the rough texture of braided sutures caused by crossing patterns and overlapping fibers.
- Anti-wicking design strategy – Seeks to reduce internal interstices that can retain moisture or harbor contaminants.
- Enhanced durability in absorbable materials – Especially relevant for sutures made of polyglycolide or poly(lactide-co-glycolide).
How It Connects To EP3835470B1
- Both patents aim to enhance suture performance through structural refinement in braided designs.
- Each considers uniform stress distribution across yarn elements as a factor in performance and reliability.
- Both approaches address shape stability and thread behavior during tensile loading and surgical manipulation.
Why This Matters
CA2019532A1 highlights how traditional braided sutures were improved by rethinking fiber interactions under stress. Its attention to balance, form, and smoothness mirrors the material-conscious design philosophy seen in EP3835470B1, which further evolves the concept through variable denier segmentation.
Fun Fact: Thread geometry and airflow slots share a principle. EP3835470B1 Patent Audit on Surgical Thread Engineering shows how structural transitions improve performance. This is much like EP3119235B1’s overlapping slot design, which enhances styling results.
#4. AU2011201113A1
This Australian patent AU2011201113A1, published in 2011, focuses on the construction of sutures using multifilament yarns. It outlines multiple techniques for combining filaments and fibers into yarns and then further into braided structures. The approach enhances suture flexibility, material adaptability, and structural control in both monofilament and multifilament designs.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Multifilament yarn-based sutures – Emphasizes yarns composed of multiple filaments combined using methods like twisting, braiding, and knitting.
- Hybrid construction zones – Sutures may include both monofilament and multifilament segments within a single structure.
- Modular manufacturing processes – Describes techniques such as commingling, air entangling, and drawing to engineer yarns pre-braiding.
- Braided and non-woven designs – Covers both traditional braiding and non-woven filament combinations for custom suture profiles.
- Material diversity – Filaments may be of the same or different materials, enabling performance tuning for medical applications.
How It Connects To EP3835470B1
- Both patents explore multifilament yarns as core suture components with structural variation.
- Each allows customization at the fiber or yarn level to modulate surgical handling and in-tissue behavior.
- Both reflect the use of yarn engineering to optimize threading and grip during procedures.
Why This Matters
This patent contributes to the broader trend of flexible, modular suture architectures that adapt material composition and structure. Its emphasis on production techniques like crinkling, air entangling, and hybrid monofilament–multifilament layouts aligns with EP3835470B1’s goals of improved handling and thread control through precise yarn design.
How to Find Related Patents Using Global Patent Search
Understanding the broader patent landscape is essential when exploring surgical yarns, suture design, or textile engineering in medical applications. The Global Patent Search tool makes this process easier by surfacing inventions that address similar challenges in thread structure, denier variation, and surgical performance.
1. Enter the patent number into GPS: Start by entering a patent number like EP3835470B1 into the GPS platform. The tool converts it into a focused query, which can be refined using keywords such as “braided suture,” “variable denier,” or “yarn structure.”
2. Explore conceptual snippets: Rather than performing claim-by-claim comparisons, GPS now delivers curated text snippets. These spotlight how other inventions optimize denier profiles, fiber layout, or surgical threading behavior.
3. Identify related inventions: The tool surfaces patents dealing with thread adaptability, strength tuning, and region-specific design. This offers insight into how similar structural problems are being addressed.
4. Compare systems, not legal claims: GPS focuses on broader technical solutions, like asymmetric filament distribution or core-sheath architecture, helping users discover functional overlaps beyond just claim language.
5. Accelerate cross-domain insights: Whether working in biomedical textiles, surgical tools, or emerging fields like synthetic biology, GPS connects innovations across domains, bringing hidden patterns to light.
With Global Patent Search, researchers can shift from isolated patents to a clear, system-level understanding of surgical yarn innovation. It brings together related ideas, helping teams design with more precision, adaptability, and confidence in today’s fast-moving medical landscape.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The related patent references mentioned are preliminary results from the Global Patent Search tool and do not guarantee legal significance. For a comprehensive related patent analysis, we recommend conducting a detailed search using GPS or consulting a patent attorney.
