United States Surgical Corporation

Henry A Holzwarth

David L Brown

Ross R Muth

Donald S Kaplan

Matthew E Hermes

Christopher M Scanlon

Craig W Leary

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 Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture.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

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 Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture.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 multi-panel suture retainer provides ready access to, and removal of, a quantity of stored combined surgical needle-suture devices.

Retainer for a combined surgical suture-needle device

A suture package is disclosed which is formed of a plurality of panels foldably connected to each other and arranged to fold upon each other to form a suture compartment between pairs of adjacent panels. A generally planar insert member includes portions cut out and lifted from the plane of the insert, respective pluralities of the cut portions being dimensioned and positioned to engage respective portions of a plurality of suture needles positioned thereon to retain the needles in respective fixed spaced positions within the package such that the needles are positioned in one needle compartment and individual flexible suture portions connected to the needles are respectively positioned in individual compartments formed by the remaining adjacent folded panels. In one embodiment portions of certain panels are cut away to reduce the girth of the folded package when loaded. Such portions may either be circular cut-outs or may be provided by dimensioning the length of certain panels less than the others. Apertures are preferably provided to provide access means for packing fluids into the package.

Package for multiple sutures

A molded suture retainer is provided for retaining and storing sutures. Both absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures fabricated from natural or synthetic materials can be advantageously retained and stored therein. The retainer is characterized by a wide spiraling oval passageway with minimal convolutions covered by a cover sheet. The length of the passageway is preferably proportional to 1/3 to 1/2 the overall length of the suture to be retained therein. Recesses are provided for receiving package stabilizing agents and/or needle parks. Sutures packaged in accordance with the invention exhibit fewer kinks and bends than prior packaged sutures.

Molded suture retainer

A suture display rack and procedure kit is provided which, upon folding, presents a plurality of stacked suture packages for seriatim review. The suture display rack is a substantially U-shaped structure with a floor portion and two opposing sidewall portions. A longitudinal fold line is provided in the floor portion parallel to the planes formed by the side walls such that, upon folding, the side wall portions may be brought into the same horizontal plane to form the base for the suture display rack. The suture packages may be loosely held in the rack or alternatively hinged to a side wall or contained in sheaths for ease of review and removal. The suture display rack may be securely adhered to a desired surface or may be set up in a portable manner.

Suture display rack and procedure kit

A molded suture retainer is provided for retaining and storing sutures. Both absorbable and nonabsobable sutures fabricated from natural or synthetic materials can be advantageously retained and stored therein. The retainer is characterized by a wide spiraling oval passageway with minimal convolutions covered by a cover sheet. The length of the passageway is preferably proportional to 1/3 to 1/2 the overall length of the suture to be retained therein. Recesses are provided for receiving package stabilizing agents and/or needle parks. Sutures packaged in accordance with the invention exhibit fewer kinks and bends than prior packaged sutures.

A package is provided for a combined surgical suture-needle device featuring a peelable, or strippable, closure flap.

Package for a combined surgical suture-needle device

A package for surgical sutures and suture-needle assemblies which includes a series of panels foldable about each other to enclose the sutures in an unfolded and elongated condition.

Package for surgical sutures

A package is disclosed for containing a plurality of combined surgical suture devices, particularly of the double armed type having a pledget and used for cardiovascular surgical procedures. A backing panel has a protective cover adhesively affixed to one side and defines a plurality of straight elongated suture tracks for reception of the flexible suture portion therein. An aperture is positioned at each end of each track to facilitate reception of the flexible suture portion into the track and drawing a vacuum therein to assist drawing the flexible suture portion into the track. Preferred embodiments include separate features such as a foam needle park or an end flap configured to support the suture needles beneath tabs. Still another embodiment includes and end flap which defines pockets to receive the needles. A method for packaging such sutures is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Weston, CT, United States of America

Henry A Holzwarth