Smiths Medical Asd, Inc.

Alltrista Plastics, LLC

Ethicon, Gmbh

Tilia International, Inc.

Jarden Corporation

Unimark Plastics

Glynn Clements

William T Torris

Lynn Howe

Gregory J Brown

Christian Schlerf

Ian Carr

Robert J Cerwin

Clifford A Dey

Paul W Havens

A one piece molded vacuum tube holder is fitted with a one piece molded needle hub assembly. A needle protection device is further rotatably mounted to the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder. One portion of a locking mechanism is provided at the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder and a second portion of the locking mechanism is provided at the needle hub of the needle hub assembly, so that when the needle hub assembly is press fit to the vacuum tube holder, the two portions of the locking mechanism will coact to fixedly retain the needle hub assembly within the vacuum tube holder. The one piece vacuum tube holder is configured to have an elongate needle cover integrally extending from its neck. A finger grasp mechanism may be coupled to the needle cover.

Tamper evident vacuum tube holder assembly and needle hub assembly therefor

A one piece molded vacuum tube holder is fitted with a one piece molded needle hub assembly. One portion of a locking mechanism is provided at the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder and a second portion of the locking mechanism is provided at the needle hub of the needle hub assembly. The needle hub assembly is press fit to the vacuum tube holder. The one piece vacuum tube holder is configured to have an elongate needle cover integrally extending from its neck. A tamper evident notched joint is provided at the junction where the needle cover is connected to the neck. The opening of the vacuum tube holder through which a conventional vacuum tube is inserted may be sealed for sterilization and transport of the device. A wingnut finger grasp mechanism may be coupled to the needle cover.

The subject invention relates to a precision injection molding of multi-piece parts and the subsequent handling and assembly of those parts produced from the mold. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical suture package with a top part and a bottom part is molded and assembled. In such a method and system, the top parts and bottom parts are first molded utilizing a family mold and then are transferred to a stacker. The stacker is able to stack the top part and bottom part on top of one another on a pallet. The parts are then transported to a welder in order to weld the top part and bottom part together. The completed surgical suture packages are then transferred to a magazine for storage and shippage.

Stacked family molding and subsequent assembly process

A one piece molded vacuum tube holder is fitted with a one piece molded needle hub assembly. A needle protection device is further rotatably mounted to the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder. One portion of a locking mechanism is provided at the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder and a second portion of the locking mechanism is provided at the needle hub of the needle hub assembly, so that when the needle hub assembly is press fit to the vacuum tube holder, the two portions of the locking mechanism will coact to fixedly retain the needle hub assembly within the vacuum tube holder. The one piece vacuum tube holder is configured to have an elongate needle cover integrally extending from its neck. A tamper evident notched joint is provided at the junction where the needle cover is connected to the neck.

A package assembly and method for packaging sutures is provided. The package includes a substantially rectangular casing defining an internal area therein and including a container portion having a substantially flat bottom side defined by first, second, third and fourth edges, and first, second, third and fourth sides extending upwardly from the first, second, third and fourth edges respectively, and a lid portion removably secured to a top side of the container portion to thereby form an integral casing. The package further includes a plurality of suture packages each having a substantially planar shape, wherein the plurality of packages are positioned within the internal area of the rectangular casing substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the bottom side of the container portion. The third side of the container portion, in a region substantially adjacent to the first side of the container portion, includes a removable breakaway portion wherein removal thereof leaves an opening through which the suture packages can be removed.

Molded package

A canister lid includes a cover member adapted to cover a canister, thereby defining an interior of the canister. An evacuation valve is adapted to allow evacuation of the interior of the container. A vacuum release valve is adapted to allow venting of the interior of the container.

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Greenville, SC, United States of America

Glynn Clements