Abstract: A thermoformed blister package for a surgical instrument. The package has a tray having at least one cavity having at least one undercut and an instrument can be quickly released from a cavity and from the package without touching the instrument. The package also has an interlocking projection for efficiently storing packages in a dispenser container.

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: 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 system for the application of knots in surgical suture material consists of a pre-knotted surgical suture means (1) and a surgical knot applicator. The pre-knotted surgical suture means (1) has a sleeve (10) open at both ends (12, 13) and a surgical suture material (15) such as thread, cord, etc., which suture material is tied around the sleeve (10) to produce a pre-knotted displaceable knot (18) and has a free end (16). The surgical knot applicator contains a shaft, whose distal end-zone comprises an opening corresponding to the diameter of the sleeve (10). The sleeve (10) inserted with its proximal zone (12) into this opening is pulled back into the interior space of the shaft with a pulling-in device. The suture and the knot (18) are pulled tight by moving the free end (16) of the surgical suture material (15) guided through the sleeve (10) in proximal direction (arrow) with a pulling device.

Abstract: A tube knot applicator for use in endosurgical procedures. The tube knot applicator has an elongated tube member having a distal end and a proximal end, as well as an axial passage therethrough. The tube member has slits for partially collapsing the distal end of the tube as well as a removable plug mounted in the distal end of the tube to prevent the distal end of the tube from collapsing by supporting distal slitted end. A suture having at least one slip knot and at least one locking knot is mounted in the tube knot applicator with the knot tied about the collapsing means. A sleeve is mounted to the distal end of tube knot applicator over the suture knot and the distal end.

Abstract: A pyloroplasty/pylorectomy shield having a base member and a proximally extending shield member. The pyloroplasty/pylorectomy shield has attachment means for engagement with a circular stapler. The pyloroplasty/pylorectomy shield also has dilation means for progressively dilating a sphincter. The pyloroplasty/pylorectomy shield is used with a circular stapler to perform a pyloroplasty/pylorectomy. Also disclosed is a method of performing a pyloroplasty/pylorectomy using the pyloroplasty/pylorectomy shield of the present invention. The pyloroplasty/pylorectomy shield has numerous advantages including reduced trauma, decreased misalignment resulting in improved stapling and improved positioning of the pyloroplasty/pylorectomy.

Abstract: A foldable package for a temporary cardiac pacing wire is disclosed. The package has a plurality of panels connected along fold lines as well as holes and tab pockets for mounting surgical needles and electrode needles. The package also has tabs and tab pockets for locking the package.

Abstract: A surgical staple for use in surgical procedures. The surgical staple has a crown having a hollow frame. The frame has a top slot in communication with the interior of the crown frame. At least two legs are pivotally mounted in the frame such that when the staple is inserted into tissue and the legs are rotated inwardly, the staple secures tissue and the legs are locked in a fixed position. In an alternate embodiment, at least one leg is pivotally mounted to the frame and at least one leg is fixedly mounted to the frame.

Abstract: Disclosed are sterile surgical needles formed of alloys of tungsten and a second metal selected from the group consisting of rhenium, rhodium and iridium. The needles exhibit a tensile yield strength in excess of 250,000 psi and a tensile modulus of elasticity in excess of 45.times.10.sup.6 psi, and have advantageously high ductility. The needles have a body portion, a distal point, and a proximal suture mounting portion. Preferably the needles comprise about 3 to about 84 6 weight percent of rhenium, rhodium and/or iridium. The needles exhibit improved yield point and elastic modulus in tension.

Abstract: An applicator is provided for applying a sheet of surgical material, e.g., an adhesion barrier or other surgical fabric, to internal body tissue. The applicator includes an expandable operating tip which is insertable into an endoscopic tube through an incision in a body to enable a surgeon to apply the adhesion barrier or other surgical fabric to tissue inside the body. A preferred embodiment of the applicator includes a set of telescoping tubes comprising an outer delivery tube, a intermediate deployment tube, and a inner irrigation tube. An expandable spreader tip is mounted at the distal end of the irrigation tube and connected to the distal end of the deployment tube. By advancing the deployment tube and irrigation tube relative to the delivery tube, the spreader tip is exposed at the distal end of the delivery tube. The spreader tip is expanded by movement of the deployment tube relative to the irrigation tube to spread the adhesion barrier over the tissue.

Abstract: An intracorporeal knot tying device. The knot tying device comprises a cannula tube having a proximal end and a distal end and passage therethrough. A suture is movably mounted within the tubular passage. A needle is mounted to the distal end of the suture. The cannula has in its distal end a slit or a distally extending arm for retaining the suture and maneuvering the suture while tying an intracorporeal knot.

Abstract: A packaging for the protective sterile containment of a rigid product and, more particularly, a sealed container protectively enclosing the sterile product, such as a liquid-filled vial, during shipment and handling of the packaging, and upon opening of the packaging in a sterile environment; for instance, a surgical operating room, facilitating the sterile transfer of the product from the packaging into the sterile environment.

Abstract: A trocar and trocar obturator assembly having an obturator and a locking mechanism responsive to proximal, axial movement of the trocar obturator is disclosed. The trocar obturator has an elongated obturator shaft having a proximal end and a distal end with a piercing tip mounted thereto. The proximal end of the trocar obturator shaft is slidably mounted in a handle such that the obturator shaft is moveable axially. A protective safety shield having a distal end and a proximal end with a flange member mounted to the proximal end is slidably mounted on the trocar obturator. The safety shield is moveable, axially, between an extended distal position and a retracted proximal position. The protective safety shield is disposed concentrically about the obturator. A lockout arm for locking the safety shield in a locked extended position is mounted in the trocar obturator handle.

Abstract: A novel cardiac pacing lead. The pacing lead has a conductive wire comprising a single filament of a low modulus metal. A surgical needle is mounted to a distal end of the wire and an electrode needle is mounted to the proximal end of the wire. An integral anchor is formed in a distal, uninsulated section of the wire for anchoring the pacing lead in heart muscle. The wire has a "hand" similar to multifilament wires.

Abstract: A package for a procedure kit that defines a suture winding channel and a surgical needle and suture procedure kit. The package may contain a variety of sizes and types and lengths of sutures and needles including at least one double-armed suture. The package has a base having a central area. An inner wall extends up from the base about the periphery of the central area. An outer wall also extends from the base. The outer wall and the inner wall form the channel. At least one spacer or separator member is located in the channel for separating the channel into at least two coplanar sections. A needle park means extends from the central area for receiving and holding surgical needles. The package and kit may be overwrapped with foil or paper and inserted into a conventional thermal plastic blister pack.

Abstract: A medical device for enclosing an internal body organ or tissue during surgery, especially endoscopic surgery. The device has a strand with loop and free end portions, the free end portion enclosed within a cannula. The loop has a cinch. The device has a surgical pouch with an opening or mouth. The pouch is mounted to the loop portion at the open end of the pouch. An optional frangible end of the cannula allows for pulling the free end portion proximally to reduce the diameter of the noose portion so as to close the open end of the surgical pouch. The surgical pouch has a shape memory effect metal insert so that the pouch automatically unfurls or unwinds in a patient's body cavity. The device may also have a shape memory effect metal loop which also automatically opens the mouth of the pouch in the patient's body.

Abstract: Blunt tip cutting edge needles which are suitable for use in suturing cutaneous tissues of the body while at the same time significantly reducing the probability of skin penetration of the gloved hand of an operator are disclosed. The needle includes a blunt tip and an integral cutting section having at least one cutting edge. The blunt tip blends smoothly with an outer surface of a distal end of the cutting portion such that the blunt tip has no sharp edges or discontinuities.

Abstract: A medical device for ligation or approximating tissue is disclosed. The device has a cannula with proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the cannula has a beveled surface, and the cannula has first and second channels, the first channel extending axially through it, and the second channel extending from the beveled surface to the first channel. The device includes a suture with a slide end and a distal loop, as well as a slip knot securing the loop to the slide end. The slide end is threaded thorough the first and second channels of the cannula and it protrudes from the proximal end of the cannula. In addition, the device incorporates means for securing the positioning of the slide end of the suture in the first channel of the cannula. The device may optionally have a frangible proximal end wherein the proximal end of the suture is mounted to the frangible proximal end.

Abstract: An insert for an outer package for a thermoformed blister package, wherein the blister package has an outwardly extending flange. The foldable insert is placed within the outer package so that the flange of a blister package is rigidly supported and the outer package has improved stiffness and resistance to flexing. The insert has a pair of hingingly connected members having a rectangular cross-section. A longitudinal based panel having a pair of opposed major and a pair of opposed minor sides is foldably connected to a first end panel along the minor sides of the base panel. A first longitudinal side panel is foldably connected to a first major side of a longitudinal base panel and an opposed second longitudinal side panel is foldably connected to the other major side of the longitudinal base panel. A first longitudinal cover panel is foldably connected to the first longitudinal base panel and an opposed longitudinal side panel is foldably connected to the second longitudinal side panel.