Abstract: Absorbable binary and tertiary blends of homopolymers and copolymers of poly(lactide), poly(glycolide), poly(.epsilon.-caprolactone), and poly(p-dioxanone) are described. The blends when used to manufacture medical devices exhibit shape retention, dimensional stability and palpability without loss of the strength, stiffness and BSR found for poly(lactide) homopolyers and/or poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymers.

Abstract: A suture package having a base member, an upwardly extending outer wall about the periphery of the base member, a plurality of grooves in the base member for receiving a suture, and a top lid member. The package has a central needle park and a discharge opening in the lid member for removing a needle and suture from the package. The package may alternatively have spoke members and rib members extending up from the base member containing grooves which form a suture channel for receiving a suture.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing wire or needles having a taper point. Needle or wire blanks are cut from a roll of wire and mounted to a carrier strip. The carrier strip and needles are moved through a succession of forming and trimming and grinding stations. The blanks are preferably rotated in the strip while being ground.

Abstract: Absorbable polymers and blends of acrylated poly(alkylene diglycolate)s and aliphatic polyesters based on lactone monomers such as lactide, glycolide, e-caprolactone, p-dioxanone, and trimethylene carbonate are described. The polymers and blends exhibit a broad range of properties, useful in a variety of medical devices.

Abstract: A suture winding fixture has a base plate. Fixedly mounted perpendicular to the base plate is a pivot shaft. Rotatably mounted to the pivot shaft is a cam housing frame member. A first opposed cavity in the frame member has a first cam shaft and first set of cams. A second opposed cavity Each cam shaft is rotatably mounted to the frame within the cavities. The frame also has a central cavity for receiving the pivot shaft. Fixedly mounted to the top of the pivot shaft in the central cavity is a pinion gear. The pinion gear engages a pair of opposed bevel gears, wherein each opposed bevel gear is mounted to an end of a cam shaft. Mounted to the top of the housing frame member is a package support member containing a plurality of winding pin holes. The package support member is shaped to conform to the dimensions of a suture winding tray having a top surface with a winding channel in which it is desired to load or wind a suture.

Abstract: A package for surgical sutures and needles. The package has an elongated retention panel with a needle park and a plurality of openings in the retention panel to receive winding pins for winding a suture onto the retention panel. The package also has a foldably connected second retention panel and first and second ancillary retention panels.

Abstract: Absorbable polymers and blends of poly(alkylene diglycolate)s and aliphatic polyesters based on lactone monomers such as lactide, glycolide, 68 -caprolactone, p-dioxanone, and trimethylene carbonate are described. The polymers and blends exhibit a broad range of properties, useful in a variety of medical devices.

Abstract: A multi-layered implant has at least two layers, of which at least two have a different porosity. A woven or knitted mesh, e.g., can be provided completely or partly with a porous fleece layer on one side or on both sides. The porosity can vary within a fleece layer. A layer of the multi-layered implant can also consist of a film. Resorbable and non-resorbable substances are considered as materials.

Abstract: A taper point surgical needle having improved needle point strength is disclosed. In one embodiment of the needle, a tip portion includes first and second integral tapered regions having first and second cross-sectional areas respectively which decrease progressively toward the tip of the needle in accordance with first and second angles of inclination respectively, with the first angle being greater than the second angle. In another embodiment of the needle of the present invention, the tip portion includes a third tapered region integral with the second tapered region and having a cross-sectional area which decreases progressively toward the needle tip in accordance with a third angle of inclination which is smaller than the second angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical needle with a suture material or thread fixed to the end opposite to the perforation tip, characterized in that the puncturing tip and the area of the needle following onto the latter is made up to approximately 50% of its length from bare or surface-untreated metal, whereas the surface of the remaining part of the needle and up to the thread shoulder is chemically or electrolytically of a coating dulled or coloured in a continuous manner or with minor interruptions.

Abstract: A surgical tissue retrieval instrument has a collapsible pouch at the distal end of an elongated support tube for retrieving internal body tissue through a trocar tube. The instrument includes a belt which is formed into a loop slidably attached about the open end of the pouch. The belt is slidably extendable through the support tube for expanding the open end of the pouch to receive the tissue and retractable into the support tube for drawing the open end of the pouch closed to enclose the tissue in the pouch. The belt has an oblong, e.g., rectangular, cross section oriented with its larger cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the plane of the loop to provide stability at the open end of the pouch and to enable use of the pouch in a scoop-like manner to place the tissue therein. A portion of the belt is thermally set into a curved configuration to urge the loop into a normally expanded shape with the belt extended from the distal end of the support tube.

Abstract: Absorbable/resorbable mixtures of aliphatic polyesters of poly(lactide), poly(glycolide), poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(p-dioxanone) and poly(.epsilon.-caprolactone) and calcium containing bone regenerating compounds such as powdered, non-fibrous calcium phosphates are described. The composites when used to manufacture medical devices exhibit improved absorption characteristics and other physical properties.

Abstract: Suture dispensers for retaining armed sutures are disclosed. The dispenser disclosed is comprised of two flat panels of material that each have a central opening. A needle park is provided so that the needle is visible in and accessible though the central openings. In preferred embodiments, the needle park is made of a thin sheet of clear material. Several alternate needle park designs are also disclosed. The two panels are preferably locked together using edge locks in the form of corresponding slits and tabs formed on the panels themselves. In addition to being inexpensive, easy to manufacture and easy to fill, the disclosed dispensers is much thinner than current designs and thus requires less storage and shipping space. Methods of loading dispensers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Suture dispensers for retaining armed sutures are disclosed. The dispenser disclosed is comprised of two flat panels of material that each have a central opening. A needle park is provided so that the needle is visible in and accessible though the central openings. In preferred embodiments, the needle park is made of a thin sheet of clear material. Several alternate needle park designs are also disclosed. The two panels are preferably locked together using edge locks in the form of corresponding slits and tabs formed on the panels themselves. In addition to being inexpensive, easy to manufacture and easy to fill, the disclosed dispensers is much thinner than current designs and thus requires less storage and shipping space. Methods of loading dispensers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A blunt tip surgical needle which significantly reduces the probability of skin penetration of the gloved hand of an operator is disclosed. The blunt tip needle includes a tip portion having at least one flat surface. The flat surface(s) blends smoothly between each other and with the outer surface of the tip portion such that the entire tip portion has a continuously smooth outer surface lacking any discontinuities or sharp edges.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing wire or needles having a taper point. Needle or wire blanks are cut from a roll of wire and mounted to a carrier strip. The carrier strip and needles are moved through a succession of forming and trimming and grinding stations. The blanks are preferably rotated in the strip while being ground.

Abstract: A foldable package for an endoscopic specimen retrieval bag device. The package has a base panel having a pair of opposed major sides and a pair of opposed minor sides. The trapezoid shape connecting panel having a pair of opposed major sides and a pair of opposed angulated sides is foldably connected along the first major side to one major side of the base panel. A trapezoid shaped cannula retention panel having a pair of opposed major sides and a pair of opposed angulated sides is foldably connected along one major side to the second major side of the connecting panel and a regularly shaped upper panel has a first side along which the upper panel is foldably connected to the second major side of the retention panel. The upper panel has a pair of opposed angulated sides and an upper side.

Abstract: A suture package having a base, an upwardly extending wall, an inner dispensing wall, a suture channel between the walls, and a top friction plate member mounted therein. The package has a central needle park and a discharge opening in the friction plate for removing a needle and suture from the package.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of suture needles and, more particularly, a process for enhancing the physical strength of the suture needles through an expedient cold-working or cold-forming procedure. Also disclosed is the provision of a novel and physically strengthened suture needle, particularly a surgical suture needle possessing a curvilinear configuration wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the needle is cold-formed into varying shapes in order to produce a needle having superior physical characteristics and strengths imparted thereto through the inventive process.