The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 25, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 05, 1997
Michael S Pohle, Flemington, NJ (US);
Marvin Alpern, Glen Ridge, NJ (US);
Robert J Cerwin, Pipersville, PA (US);
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Abstract
A suture package having a shallow polymer tray for holding an armed suture has a substantially flat floor area, an exterior surface of which defines at least a portion of a rear surface of the package. A front cover forms a front surface of the package and a needle park is disposed on the floor area for holding a surgical needle of the armed suture. The floor area has a window therethrough proximate the needle park. The front cover terminates proximate the needle park to provide an access opening to the needle. The window and the access opening permit the needle to be grasped by a needle holder and to be withdrawn from the package. Because the package has an opening on both the front and rear surfaces for viewing and removing the needle, curved needles may be stored therein in a conventional orientation, i.e., to serve right-handed physicians while at the same time accommodating dispensing from the rear to provide a suitable needle orientation for use by left-handed surgeons.