Abstract: A surgical repair device having a length to width ratio of greater than one is disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of fibers. The majority of the fibers are in a direction essentially parallel to the device length.The device has an absorbable component comprising a glycolic or lactic acid ester linkage. The remainder of the device, if any, has a non-absorbable component. The device can be used as a flat braid in the repair of a ligament or tendon.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable coating for a surgical article comprises a copolymer manufactured from the monomer caprolactone and at least one other copolymerizable monomer. The surgical article can be a bioabsorbable suture or ligature.

Abstract: A bone fixation device is disclosed. The device comprises an absorbable homopolymer of 1-lactide or d1-lactide, or a copolymer of 1-lactide, and a reinforcement material. The reinforcement material can be a particulate filler of hydroxyapatite or a plurality of alumina fibers.

Abstract: A surgical closure device having two mating members is disclosed. The first member comprises a plurality of pins, an indentation ajacent the proximal end of each pin, and at least one synthetic tissue compatible first fiber connecting the distal end of each adjacent pin. The second member comprises at least one synthetic tissue compatible second fiber having a plurality of knots essentially equal in number to the plurality of pins. A method of closing a wound of living tissue using the surgical closure device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A diblock copolymer is disclosed having a first block of a polyalkylene oxide and a second block of glycolic acid ester and trimethylene carbonate linkages. A triblock copolymer is disclosed having a middle block obtained from an ethylene oxide homopolymer or a copolymer of ethylene oxide and a cyclic ether. Alternatively, the triblock copolymer middle block is obtained from a copolymer of formula (I): ##STR1## and formula (II): ##STR2## The copolymers are useful in medical and surgical applications.

Abstract: The invention discloses a surgical filament having a coating comprising a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein x is at least 2, R' is selected from the group consisting of an alkaline-earth metal ion or radical, and R" is an alkyl group having at least 12 carbon atoms in the backbone. In a specific embodiment, the surgical filament is a bioabsorbable suture or ligature manufactured from a polymer containing at least one glycolic acid ester linkage.

Abstract: A surgical suture package is disclosed. The package is self-contained and permits direct dispensing of one or more sutures.

Abstract: A surgical suture coating comprising a random copolymer is disclosed. The copolymer has about 25 to 75 weight percent of glycolic acid ester linkages. The remaining linkages comprise at least trimethylene carbonate. The copolymer has a glass transition temperature at or below ambient temperature.

Abstract: An extension mounting apparatus on which a bowel anastomosis ring device may be mounted in prefixed position to facilitate handling, insertion and closure in bowel ends to be anastomosed may be advantageously removably attached to an inserter to provide an applicator which enables insertion in the bowel and manipulation from a point exterior of the area to be anastomosed so as to cause the bowel anastomosis ring device halves to become controllably connected to couple the bowel ends to be joined together in contiguous abutting relationship. A method of performing low colorectal anastomosis using the bowel anastomosis ring device and closing the mating ring halves by manipulating the applicator exteriorly of the anus involves passing the inserter portion of the applicator from the interior of the rectum to the exterior of the anus so that placement is always from the clean area of surgery and anastomosis to the dirty and contaminated end.

Abstract: An improved surgical ligating instrument has been invented. The improvements comprise crimping means having canted jaws and advancing means having a clip actuator, said actuator having a first and second pawl in alternate relationship.A surgical ligating instrument has also been invented. The instrument comprisesa. a housing having a force activating and translating mechanism; b. loading mechanism having an injector, the terminal end adjacent a single clip; c. an advancing mechanism having a pair of aligned members, the initial end of said members contained in said housing and the terminal end containing jaws; a clip actuator rotatably mounted adjacent the initial end of said jaws; a spring, a pusher at the terminal end of said spring, and a plurality of clips, the rearmost clip adjacent said pusher and the frontmost clip contained by said actuator; and d. a crimping mechanism having a crimp bar.

Abstract: A polyglycolic acid mesh sling sewn above the pelvic inlet prevents small bowel descent into the true pelvis during radiation therapy for various pelvic malignancies.

Abstract: A nonmetallic surgical clip having two separate and noncontiguous parts is decribed. Each part contains an arm, and means for approximating the cooperating surfaces of the two arms. The clip is useful in ligating a blood vessel, e.g. an artery.

Abstract: The invention involves the use of absorbable or absorbable/nonabsorbable components to fabricate textile vascular grafts of all sizes and specifically for repair of the peripheral vascular system and for coronary bypass use. The bioabsorbable component of the graft fosters increased tissue ingrowth into the graft as compared to conventional 100% nonabsorbable grafts. Increased tissue ingrowth leads to greater patency through formation of a vascularized neointima and less tendency to be aneurysmal through formation of a suitable adventitia. The absorbable component can be a variety of materials, including PGA, MAXON.TM., etc., whereas the nonabsorbable component (to be used as the backbone) can be new materials, e.g. NOVAFIL.RTM., or more conventional polymers, including polyester, polyamide or polypropylene.

Abstract: The prior art discloses a surgical stapler having means for forming a staple, and means for activating the forming means. The forming means have an anvil surface terminating in a movable flange and a track movably containing a forming blade. The improved stapler of this invention comprises the activating means cooperatively attached to the forming means, and the anvil surface having a boss and the forming blade having an opening. The anvil surface boss has an arcuate motion dependent on the linear motion of the forming blade opening. Alternatively, the improved stapler also comprises a formed staple stripping surface adjacent at least two opposing sides of the anvil flange.

Abstract: A mesh or fabric, having zero to variable stretch, is made from absorbable or partially absorbable fibers. The mesh or fabric can be either knitted or woven. The fabric is useful in surgical repair.

Abstract: An improved surgical instrument is described. The instrument comprises a housing. The housing has a handle for activating a force, and a link for translating the force. The instrument also comprises a probe. The probe has jaws or an anvil for holding a single wound closure element, a movable crimp bar for crimping the single closure element in the jaw or anvil, the proximal end of the crimp bar being connected to the distal end of the link, a spring for advancing a plurality of wound closure elements, and an injector for loading a single wound closure element, from the plurality, into the jaws or onto the anvil. The improvement comprises the link indirectly connected to the spring and the injector to integrally effect the crimp bar, spring and injector.The surgical instrument can be a ligating instrument.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The instrument has a handle, a trigger, means for carrying a staple, the carrying means comprising a track for containing at least one staple, and means for closing the staple. The improvement to the track comprises a leaf spring. The track and the leaf spring are a unitary element. The leaf spring is at the end of the track adjacent to the closing means. In one embodiment, the closing means is an anvil surface terminating in a flange.

Abstract: An improved nonmetallic surgical clip having two separate arms joined together at an apex is disclosed. The improvement comprises a weakened portion and a bend in at least one arm. The bend is at the weakened portion. The amount of the bend is such that at least a part of one arm is in an essentially parallel relationship with at least a part of the other arm.

Abstract: An improved surgical ligating instrument has been invented. The improvements comprise a crimping mechanism having canted jaws and an advancing mechanism having a clip actuator, said actuator having a first and a second pawl in alternate relationship.A surgical ligating instrument has also been invented. The instrument comprisesa. a housing having a force activating and translating mechanism; b. a loading mechanism having an injector, the terminal end adjacent a single clip; c. an advancing mechanism having a pair of aligned members, the initial end of the members contained in the housing and the terminal end containing jaws; a clip actuator rotatably mounted adjacent the initial end of the jaws; a spring, a pusher at the terminal end of the spring, and a plurality of clips, the rearmost clip adjacent the pusher and the frontmost clip contained by the actuator; and d. a crimping mechanism having a crimp bar.

Abstract: A synthetic nonabsorbable surgical suture compound of segmented polyether--ester block copolymers is disclosed.