Abstract: A biodegradable stent for implantation into a lumen in a human body. The stent in one embodiment is made from a biodegradable fiber having an inner core and an outer layer. The outer layer is a blend of two polymer components. The inner core has a first degradation rate, and the outer layer has a second degradation rate. The second degradation rate is slower than the first degradation rate. The fiber softens in vivo such that the stent is readily passed from the lumen as a softened fragment or filament after a pre-determined period of time through normal flow of body fluids passing through the lumen.

Abstract: A package for a sterile reamer. The package has an outer foldable package and an inner foam retainer. A sterile surgical instrument in a sealed pouch is contained in the retainer. The package provides economical, protective and space efficient containment for heavy surgical instruments.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a human knee. Femoral and tibial tunnels are drilled into the femur and tibia. A transverse tunnel is drilled into the femur to intersect the femoral tunnel. A replacement graft is formed into a loop and moved into the femoral and tibial tunnels using a surgical needle and suture. A flexible filamentary member is simultaneously moved along with the loop into the femoral and transverse tunnels. The filamentary member is used as a guide wire in the transverse tunnel to insert a cannulated cross-pin to secure a top of the looped graft in the femoral tunnel.

Abstract: A device for singulating surgical needles from a bulk supply of needles includes a vibratory bowl for receiving the supply of needles. The bowl has a floor to receive the needles, a track extending from the floor to a needle discharge point and a selectively vibrating motor to vibrate the surgical needles into a single file along the track. A discharge device has first and second needle receiving pockets, and positions the first and the second needle receiving pockets below the needle discharge point. A controller selectively vibrates the vibratory bowl and selectively positions the first and second needle pockets below the needle discharge point, the controller singulating individual needles from the single file of needles into the first and second needle receiving pockets. A discharger discharges the singulated needles in a spaced relationship on a conveyor for subsequent imaging at an inspection station.

Abstract: A suture anchor for affixing soft tissue to bone. The anchor has a hollow outer member, and an actuation member slidably mounted within the outer member. The actuation member has at least two engagement members that are pivotally mounted to the actuation member. Proximal movement of the actuation member with respect to the outer member causes the engagement members to move outward to a deployed position, wherein the engagement members are deployed in bone. A surgical suture is mounted to the anchor.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting surgical needles in needle parks. The apparatus has a frame, a needle block slidably mounted to the frame, a shuttle member slidably mounted to the frame, and a pick-up head. The needle block has a plurality of guide members spaced apart to receive at least one surgical needle and at least one needle park. The apparatus is used in a method of automatically loading surgical needles into the needle parks of surgical suture packages.

Abstract: A machine and process for packaging armed sutures into tray packages. The machine has a frame with a rotatable indexing disc member mounted to the top of the frame. A plurality of tool nests are rotatably mounted to the top of the indexing disc. Tray packages mounted in the toll nests are rotated to wind sutures into a suture channel in the packages. A stylus having a front nose member and a rear heel member guides suture into the suture channel. Channel winding pins in the winding tooling provide for an arranged wind of suture in a suture channel of the tray packages. The machine has an in-line printer and a punching machine for printing and punching paper covers from strips of stock material, which are then mounted to the tray packages.

Abstract: A method of laser drilling surgical needles. The method utilizes a diode pulsed laser to produce a laser beam consisting of a train of high energy pulses. The method produces laser drilled chamfered blind bore holes in surgical needles.

Abstract: A biodegradable stent for implantation into a lumen in a human body. The stent in one embodiment is made from a biodegradable fiber having an inner core and an outer layer. The outer layer is a blend of two polymer components. The inner core has a first degradation rate, and the outer layer has a second degradation rate. The second degradation rate is slower than the first degradation rate. The fiber softens in vivo such that the stent is readily passed from the lumen as a softened fragment or filament after a pre-determined period of time through normal flow of body fluids passing through the lumen.

Abstract: In a packaging (1) for surgical suture material, a thread duct (10) which runs in a wound manner is formed in a base (2), which thread duct opens at its first end (11) to a thread removal zone (3). The base (2) is provided with a cover. The thread removal zone (3) has a recess (24) in the base (2) adjacent to the first end (11) of the thread duct (10), adjacent to which recess a thread tray (26), which faces the first end (11) of the thread duct (10), is located.

Abstract: A surgical suture loop combination and a method of using the combination. The combination has a suture and a surgical needle. The ends of the suture are mounted to the surgical needle to form a suture loop. A pledget member is mounted to the suture loop. A replacement heart valve is mounted to a cardiac valve annulus using the suture loop combinations and surgical procedures of the present invention.

Abstract: A removable stent for implantation into a lumen in a human body. The stent is made from a soft, flexible fiber having an outer surface. An outer bioabsorbable/degradable coating is applied to the outer surface of the filament causing it to become rigid. The coating softens in vivo through absorption and/or degradation such that the stent is readily passed or removed from the lumen as a softened filament after a pre-determined period of time through normal flow of body fluids passing through the lumen or by manual removal.

Abstract: A labyrinth package for sutures. The package has a base member with a top and a bottom. A labyrinth wall member extends from the top of the base member upwardly to form a labyrinth channel. The channel has an open end and a closed end. There is a vacuum opening in the bottom of the channel adjacent to the closed end. A lid is placed on top of the package. The package is loaded with sutures by using a combination of a vacuum source applied to the vacuum opening and a venturi air stream feed.

Abstract: In a packaging (1) for surgical suture material (6), a thread duct which runs spiral-like is formed in a base (2) and opens at its first end to form a thread removal zone in the periphery area of the base (2). The base (2) is provided with a cover (4). An edge segment (3) of the base (2) can be folded down about a fold line provided in the region of the underside of the base (2) for access to the thread removal zone.

Abstract: A machine and process for packaging armed sutures into tray packages. The machine has a frame with a rotatable indexing disc member mounted to the top of frame. A plurality of tool nests are rotatably mounted to the top of the indexing disc. Tray packages mounted in the tool nests are rotated to wind sutures into a suture channel in the packages. A stylus having a front nose member and a rear heel member guides suture into the suture channel.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting graft fixation device. The fixation device is useful for affixing a tissue graft to a bone or other body surface. The graft fixation device comprises two implantation members connected by a connecting member. The fixation device can be combined with insertion members. The implantation members have longitudinal passageways therethrough. The instrument has an elongated member with a distal end. Removably mounted to the distal end is an end housing. A pair of insertion prongs for receiving a fixation device and insertion members are removably mounted in the end housing.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing absorbable sutures using a sterilant gas such as ethylene oxide gas. The method utilizes a first degassing step, and a second degassing step at elevated temperatures to remove residual sterilant gas, diluent gas, by-products and moisture.

Abstract: A graft fixation device combination. The device is useful for affixing a tissue graft to a bone or other body surface. The combination has a fixation device having two implantation members connected by a connecting member. The connecting member has at least one lateral wing member extending therefrom. The implantation members have longitudinal passageways therethrough. The combination also has an insertion member in engagement with the distal end of each implantation member.

Abstract: A biodegradable stent for implantation into a lumen in a human body. The stent in one embodiment is made from a biodegradable fiber having an inner core and an outer layer. The outer layer is a blend of two polymer components. The inner core has a first degradation rate, and the outer layer has a second degradation rate. The second degradation rate is slower than the first degradation rate. The fiber softens in vivo such that the stent is readily passed from the lumen as a softened fragment or filament after a predetermined period of time through normal flow of body fluids passing through the lumen.