United States Surgical Corporation

Motorola Corporation

David L Brown

Stanley J Malinowski

Henry A Holzwarth

Paul D Marko

Ross R Muth

Donald S Kaplan

Matthew E Hermes

Jaime Andres Borras

Raul A Pombo

Ronald E Sharp

Douglas M Dunklee

Andre P Decarie

Edward A Gemma, Jr

Mark S Stuglik

Andrew P Stellon

Victor M Abreu

Craig P Wadin

Daniel Shichman

Stelios J Patsiokas

Robert L Breeden

Clinton C Powell, Ii

Kenneth D Alton

Hans-Jurgen F Sinn

David R Heeschen

Christopher M Scanlon

Chun-Ye Susan Chang

Robert K Schweickert

Richard E Bessom

Craig W Leary

J Larry Hineline

John I Stahl

Hans-Jurgen P Sinn

Motjaba Aghaalian

Paul J Polansky

Frank E Lambrcht

Guenter Mattke

David F Brown

Peter J De Leon

Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture an removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.

Packaged synthetic absorbable surgical elements

A circuit (12) for symbol decision directed feedback synchronization includes a current synchonization clock (45) that provides an initial sampling point and selects a detector corresponding to a current symbol decision. The circuit further includes a plurality of detectors (31, 32, 33, and 34) including the detector corresponding to the current symbol decision, a buffer (736) for storing the output of the detector corresponding to the current symbol decision and a processor (300) for seeking within a predetermined window about the initial sampling point for an optimum phase value to provide an adjustment signal which is used by the processor to adjust a subsequent symbol's sychronization clock to provide an optimal sampling point.

Method and apparatus for accurate synchronization using symbol decision

A method for synchronizing base stations (104, 106, 108, 110) or radio ports in a communication system (100) such as a cordless or cellular telephone system uses a mobile station (114) or handset for synchronizing unsynchronized base stations. The mobile station (114) is first synchronized to a reference base station. The mobile station (114) then initiates communication with the unsynchronized base station and calculates a synchronization adjustment. The mobile station (114) transmits the synchronization adjustment to the unsynchronized base station which uses the synchronization adjustment to adjust its time base.

Method for over-the-air synchronization adjustment in a communication

In a time division, multiple access system, a base station (102) transmits an isochronous beacon (404, 422) at the start of each frame (400), conveying control and timing information. Following the isochronous beacon (404), isochronous time slots (414, 416, 418, 420) are dynamically allocated for communication of isochronous data. After communication of the isochronous data, the remainder of the frame (400) before the next isochronous beacon (422) is used for transmission of packets of asynchronous data. This technique gives priority to the isochronous data, which is real time, while also maximizing the bandwidth allocated for asynchronous data. A single transmitter circuit (124, 158) and receiver circuit (122, 156) at each station are used for communication of both isochronous data and asynchronous data.

Communication system and method using asynchronous and isochronous

A data processor (20) which flexibly encrypts data within different address ranges includes an encryption determination circuit (50) to monitor an address conducted on an internal address bus (22) and when the address is within certain predefined ranges, perform encryption or decryption of address and/or data. For example the encryption determination circuit (50) may be used to selectively enable a data encryption-decryption circuit (60). When the data encryption-decryption circuit (60) is disabled, data conducted on an internal data bus (23) becomes 'cleartext', i.e., non-encrypted. In one embodiment, the data encryption-decryption is performed in partial dependence on the address itself, and the address conducted to the external address bus is itself selectively encrypted as well.

Data processor with flexible data encryption

A radiotelephone handset (120) includes an antenna (122) and receiver (124) for receiving a control channel from a plurality of base stations (102, 104, 106). A time division multiple access controller circuit (126) coupled to the receiver stores all received control channel information in a captured data buffer (134). Under control of a processor (128), the handset identifies as candidate suitable base stations those base stations having acceptable received signal strength, acceptable identity or system capability. From the candidates, the handset (120) chooses a suitable base station having acceptable signal quality, access rights and system capability and synchronizes communication with the suitable base station.

Methodical scanning method and apparatus for portable radiotelephones

A surgical suture retainer retains the suture in an epitrochoidal, or hourglass configuration. One embodiment includes an insert member mounted to one of several foldable connected panels of the suture retainer. The insert member preferably has first and second wings which fold over to form a suture retaining pocket. The suture is held in a looped configuration having an hourglass shape. Another embodiment employs tabs cut from one of the panels to retain the suture in the hourglass shape. Yet another embodiment employs a cover sheet bonded to a base panel, wherein bonding areas are located to maintain the suture loop in an hourglass shape.

Suture retainer and method

The present disclosure relates to a method of performing endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedures, including the steps of providing an endoscopic kit including an obturator for penetrating body tissue and at least two sleeve members adapted for use with the obturator. The method further includes the steps of inserting the obturator into a first sleeve member, penetrating a body wall of a patient with the obturator and the first sleeve member, and removing the obturator from the first sleeve member such that the first sleeve member remains in the body wall. The method further includes the steps of inserting the obturator into a second sleeve member, penetrating the body wall with the obturator and the second sleeve member, and removing the obturator from the second sleeve member such that the second sleeve member remains in the body wall.

Endoscopic surgical method

Suture retainer

Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.

A method of using a needle shield for retainers enclosing suture-needle assemblies constructed of a fibrous material and foldable about at least two score lines to provide a protective device against needle damage, accidental sticking of the user's fingers, and puncture of the package within which the retainer is packaged.

Method of using a needle shield device for surgical packages

A nested digital phase lock loop (DPLL) circuit (400) provides center bit sampling for incoming recovered data (406). Included in the nested DPLL circuit (400) are a narrow bandwidth DPLL (402) and a wide bandwidth DPLL (404) which generate first (410) and second (428) recovered clock signals respectively. Initially the first recovered clock signal (410) is used to clock in the recovered data (406) until the narrowband DPLL (402) is stabilized. Once the narrowband DPLL (402) is stabilized, the second recovered clock signal (428) generated from the wideband DPLL (404) is switched in by a multiplexer (424). If for any reason the center bit sampled data becomes corrupted, a RESET occurs in the wideband loop (404) to zero out the phase shift of the second recovered clock signal (428) to match that of the narrow loop. Thus, when a RESET occurs, the wideband loop is tracking at exactly the same clock rate as the narrowband loop.

Nested digital phase lock loop

A retainer for a suture reel dispenser includes three panels interconnected to each other by partial double perforated lines. The retainer in a folded condition forms a pocket to receive the suture reel dispenser. One panel, namely, the reel panel includes at least one reel engaging tab which engages the receptacle of the reel dispenser to restrict movement of the reel dispenser relative to the retainer to thereby prevent accidental removal from the retainer.

Retainer for a suture reel dispenser

A moisture impervious package for surgical elements such as retainers having suture-needle assemblies positioned thereon. The package is provided with a top wall of moisture impervious material having an access opening die cut into the wall over which a closure flap secured by a peripheral heat seal to fully enclose the access opening. The top wall is then positioned over a bottom wall of moisture impervious material whereby a retainer having the suture needle assemblies is positioned therebetween. A peripheral heat seal then secures the top wall to the bottom wall to form the package.

Package for surgical sutures

Growing community of inventors

Wallingford, CT, United States of America

David L Brown