Ethicon, Gmbh

Eberhard H Thyen

Harvey B Mandel

Michael Schuler

Peter Komarnycky

Charles D Carr

A means for removably securing a plurality of needles wherein a plurality of holding means are disposed from one surface of a member, the holding means having an elongated shape with adjacent longer sides being substantially parallel. The needle is gripped on its inside curved surved in at least two points and on its outside curved surface at one point.

Needle and suture holder and package

A one-piece folded package for a plurality of single- or double-armed sutures comprising two suture mounting panels and one intermediate connecting panel. When folded, the panels completely enclose a major portion of the suture strand while the needles are displayed in an area protected by a separate cover flap extending from one panel. The sutures are individually mounted on the two suture mounting panels with the armed end of each suture retained in slits in a foam strip. When the package is opened, the suture mounting panels may be folded to elevate the needles of the sutures in two tiers for easy grasping and removal from the package.

Package for armed sutures

A package for double-armed sutures, particularly ophthalmic sutures, comprising a one-piece folded packet having needle mounting means and suture loop retaining means which are readily accessible when the package is opened. The needle mounting means is preferably removable to allow the suture to be withdrawn from the package with the needles secured therein. The suture loop retaining means is optionally incorporated with the needle mounting means and removable therewith. The package contains a single, double-armed suture with both needles secured in the needle mounting means and with a loop substantially equidistant from each needle retained in the suture loop retaining means so that the suture may be cut at the loop to obtain two single-armed sutures of substantially equal length.

Package for double-armed sutures

Folders of paper or similar foldable material which comprise at least three panels adapted to be folded in an overlapping relationship are provided with integral means for interlocking two of the panels to maintain the folder in the folded construction. The locking means comprise a tab extending from the edge of the outer end panel and a cooperating locking slot in the adjacent underlying panel adapted to receive the tab by forced bypass interlocking. The non-locking panels are provided with relief slots in the locking area to facilitate the forced bypass interlocking of the tab and lock-slot in the locking panels. Such folders are useful for packaging sutures.

Folders and integral lock therefor

A one-piece folded suture package for a plurality of single or double-armed sutures comprising a front panel, a back panel and two inner panels. The sutures are individually mounted on the two inner panels with the needles at one end and the suture strand extending therefrom over the length of the panel and secured near the other end of the panel. The panels are offset in a vertical direction to expose the upper end of both inner panels and display the needles in two horizontal tiers. The sutures are removable from the package by grasping the needles and withdrawing the suture strand from between the panels of the package. The package is optionally provided with a cover flap to cover the needle display area and integral locking means to secure the package in its folded construction.

A laminated molded sterilizable package for sutures is constructed of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet. The molded sheet has a centrally located needle chamber recess and a long, narrow suture channel extending outward of and in a generally spiral path around the needle chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the suture channel is characterized by having at least one curve in a reverse direction from the general direction of the spiral. The package is opened by peeling a portion of the cover sheet from the molded sheet to uncover the needle chamber and an adjacent length of the suture channel. The package is suitable for use with heavy denier monofilament sutures which may be withdrawn from the package singly or in groups. Sutures delivered from the package are characterized by having only gentle bends with no loops or coils and are suitable for use with little or no further straightening.

Molded suture package

A needled suture mounting and dispensing device comprising a separable needle mount and a carrier therefor is described. The needle mount comprises a three-dimensional needle retaining means having a support portion and the carrier comprises a flat card member. Separability of the needle mount from the carrier is achieved either by having the needle mount and carrier as separate members which are fitted together or by having the needle mount be a detachable portion of the carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the needle mount and carrier are two separate members. In this embodiment, the carrier is provided with a pair of parallel slits forming a tongue and slot. The slits are spaced apart at a distance smaller than the width of the support portion of the needle mount and is adapted to receive the needle mount between the tongue and edges of the slot. A package, especially for microsutures, which employs the mounting and dispensing device is also described.

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Middlesex, NJ, United States of America

Eberhard H Thyen