Prime knots obtained by band sums (Q1263841)

A trivial band sum of two (non-trivial) knots is not a prime knot, but the converse need not be true. The author studies a condition under which the converse holds, and proves Theorem 1: Let \(K=K_ 0\#_ bK_ 1\) be a non-trivial band sum of prime knots. If the band is disjoint from one incompressible Seifert surface for \(K_ 0\cup K_ 1\), then K is prime.