System and method for coating filaments

Abstract

System and method for coating a suture line are disclosed. The system includes a first guide positioned to orient the suture line for entry into a coating tube. The system also includes a coating tube having an inlet opening to admit the suture line and an outlet opening through which the suture line exits the coating tube. The coating tube includes a fill opening through which a coating composition is introduced into the coating tube to a level sufficient to submerge a portion of the suture line. The system further includes a second guide positioned to orient the suture line exiting from the dryer.

1 . A system for coating a suture line comprising: 
 a coating tube;    a first guide positioned to orient the suture line for entry into the coating tube; and    a second guide positioned to orient the suture line exiting the coating tube,    wherein the coating tube possesses an inlet opening to admit the suture line passing through the first guide and an outlet opening through which the suture line exits the coating tube, and the coating tube includes at least one fill opening through which a coating composition is introduced into the coating tube to at least a level sufficient to submerge at least one portion of the suture line.    
   
   
       2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the coating tube further comprises at least one coater head disposed at each end of the coating tube, and the at least one coater head is configured to collect the coating composition flowing through the inlet and outlet openings.  
   
   
       3 . A system as in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a return composition tank to collect the coating composition flowing through the inlet and outlet openings.    
   
   
       4 . A system as in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a controller to determine a ratio of at least one coating agent and at least one solvent carrier in the coating composition flowing through the inlet and outlet openings; and a solvent supply means for adding the solvent to the coating composition as a fumction of the ratio.    
   
   
       5 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the solvent supply means supply the solvent to the return composition tank and the coating tube.  
   
   
       6 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a dryer which dries the suture line at a temperature of from about to 25° C. to about 100° C.  
   
   
       7 . A method for coating a suture line comprising: 
 orienting the suture line through a first guide for entry into a coating tube, the coating tube possessing an inlet opening to admit the suture line and an outlet opening through which the suture line exits the coating tube, the coating tube also possessing at least one fill opening through which a coating composition is introduced into the coating tube to at least a level sufficient to submerge at least one portion of the suture line;    submerging the suture line in the coating composition filling the coating tube; and    orienting the suture line exiting from the coating tube through a second guide.    
   
   
       8 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein the coating tube further includes at least one coater head disposed at each end of the coating tube and the at least one coater head is configured to collect the composition flowing through the inlet and outlet openings.  
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 8 , further comprising the step of: 
 collecting the composition flowing through the inlet and outlet openings in a return composition tank.    
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 9 , further comprising the step of: 
 determining a ratio of a coating agent and a solvent in the coating composition flowing through the inlet and outlet openings; and    adding the solvent to the coating composition as a function of the ratio.    
   
   
       11 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein the adding the solvent step includes supplying the solvent to the return composition tank and the coating tube.  
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 7 , further comprising drying the suture line exiting from the coating tube at a temperature in the range of from about 25° C. to about 100° C.  
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 12 , ftrther comprising the steps of: 
 blowing a gas onto the suture line exiting the coating tube prior to drying; and    cooling the suture line prior to passing the at least one suture line through the second guide.    
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein the step of submerging the suture line includes determining the level sufficient to submerge and wet the at least one suture line.  
   
   
       15 . A system for coating a suture line, comprising: 
 a coating tube possessing an inlet opening to admit the suture line into the coating tube and an outlet opening through which the suture line exits the coating tube, the coating tube possessing at least one fill opening through which a coating composition is introduced into the coating tube to at least a level sufficient to submerge at least one portion of the suture line;    a first guide positioned to orient the suture line for entry into the coating tube;    a second guide positioned to orient the suture line exiting the coating tube; and    at least one coater head disposed at each of end of the coating tube,    wherein the coating composition in the coating tube flows out through at least one of the inlet and outlet openings and the at least one coater head is configured to collect the coating composition flowing through the inlet and outlet openings.    
   
   
       16 . A system as in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a return composition tank to collect the coating composition flowing through the inlet and outlet openings.    
   
   
       17 . A system as in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a controller to determine a ratio of at least one coating agent and at least one solvent carrier in the coating composition flowing through the inlet and outlet openings; and    a solvent supply means for adding the solvent to the coating composition as a function of the ratio.    
   
   
       18 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein the solvent supply means supply the solvent to the return composition tank and the coating tube.  
   
   
       19 . A system as in  claim 15 , further comprising a dryer which dries the suture line at a temperature in the range of from about 25° C. to about 100° C.