Abstract: A wound closure tape of a substrate and a pressure sensitive adhesive. The substrate has a specific pattern of indentations which provide the tape with improved elastic properties, excellent drape and desired abrasion and tensile properties.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying tissue fasteners. The instrument includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted on a support body. The jaws are placed on the opposite sides of the tissue to be joined. The instrument includes means for holding the tissue between the jaws while the fasteners are being applied and to provide rigidity between the jaws.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying two-piece fasteners to join tissue. The instrument includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted on a support body. The movable jaw holds the staple portion of the fastener and the stationary jaws include friction means for holding the receiver portion of the fasteners.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying tissue fasteners. The instrument includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted on a support body. The jaws are placed on the opposite sides of the tissue to be joined. The instrument includes an indicator to indicate minute changes in positioning of the jaws.

Abstract: Novel copolymers of .epsilon.-caprolactone and glycolide useful in making surgical articles and particularly surgical sutures having Young's modulus of less than 250,000 psi. New and improved polymerization methods for producing the novel .epsilon.-caprolactone and glycolide copolymers.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying fasteners to tissue to be joined. The instrument includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted on a support body. The instrument has force supporting means cooperating with the movable jaw to reinforce the jaw as the fasteners are being placed in the tissue.

Abstract: A method of joining tissue with a staple and a receiver. The staple is placed on one side of the tissue to be joined and the receiver on the opposite side of the tissue. The legs of the staple are grasped and/or guided as they penetrate the tissue and are retained by the receiver.

Abstract: A sterile, surgical, unitary fastener having a generally circular shape and with its free ends disposed laterally with respect to each other. Methods and instruments for forming and placing such fasteners to join tissue together.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for stitching tissue having a stationary grip portion and a movable trigger portion which are interlocked until the jaws of the instrument are in proper position for stitching tissue.

Abstract: Thermally formed annealed surgical devices made from unoriented polymers of p-dioxanone and methods for manufacturing the same. The preferred device is a ligating clip having good in vivo performance characteristics. The method includes initially drying the thermally formed device followed by heating the device without restraint at specific temperatures for specific time periods.

Abstract: A hand-operated surgical instrument for implanting a fastener in tissue to close a movable operating member remote from or extending from a movable handle for actuating the operating member. A hydraulic actuating means comprising first and second connected chambers oriented at angles relative to one another effect the movement of the operating member when the handle is moved relative to the instruments.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying two-piece fasteners to tissue to be joined. The instrument includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted on a support body. The U-shaped staple portions of the fasteners are held in the movable jaw by friction means.

Abstract: The clip has a latch disposed at the distal end of the leg members to hold the clip in a closed position. The distal end of one of the leg members includes a sharp pointed member directed towards the other of said leg members to penetrate tissue adjacent the vessel to be closed when the clip is closed.

Abstract: The invention provides a disposable suture package containing a curved surgical needle to which a suture is attached. A flattened envelope has a slot extending along part of its periphery through which a pull tab, fast with a needle carrier inside the envelope, projects outwardly from the interior of the envelope. The needle carrier is movable in the interior of the envelope towards the slot in response to a pull on the tab and has a needle-engaging formation for urging the needle towards the slot and into engagement with a cam formation fast with the envelope, to urge one end of the needle out of the slot and into a position in which it stands free of the envelope and tab.

Abstract: A fastener is provided to hold together separated portions of mammalian tissue and includes an open loop fastening member and a receiver adapted to receive the legs of the fastening member. The legs of the fastening member are then deformed to effect engagement of the fastening member and receiver. An instrument is provided for holding the receiver on one side of the tissue portions and for inserting the fastening member through the tissue portions and into the receiver. The instrument also (1) deforms the legs of the fastening member to effect the engagement of the fastening member with the receiver and (2) severs the protruding portions of the legs.

Abstract: A folded suture retainer for multistrand sutures providing for single strand delivery of sutures from the retainers. The retainer comprises a jacket member and an insert member disposed within the jacket member. The retainer provide separate spaces for containing individual sutures in a manner to prevent kinking of the suture and entanglement with adjacent sutures.

Abstract: An adapter assembly is provided for a medical instrument designed to apply a first legating clip which has a first exterior configuration. The adapter assembly is provided with an adapter member associated with each jaw of the instrument to accommodate a second ligating clip having a second exterior configuration different than that of the first clip. Each adapter member has a provision for engaging a portion of one of the jaws and the provision is provided for attaching the adapter assembly to at least one of the jaws in a fixed orientation with each adapter member extending beyond the tip of a jaws. Each adapter member includes a clip applying portion having a configuration adapted to cooperate with the other adapter member to receive, hold, and apply the second clip.

Abstract: A three-panel needled suture retainer with a separate compartment for the needle and a separate compartment for the suture. The retainer includes die cut and foldable portions to readily expose the needle to the user.

Abstract: A synthetic vascular graft is made by electrostatically spinning an organic polymeric material or a precursor thereof and collecting the spun fibres on a rotating mandrel (13), the method comprising the step of controlling the speed of rotation of the mandrel (13) such that a desired degree of anisotropy is present in the synthetic vascular graft.

Abstract: Sterile, non-metallic bio-compatible hemostatic clips of absorbable and non-absorbable materials comprising two leg members joined with a resilient hinge. The distal ends of said leg members include latch means to lock the clip in a closed position. Each leg member has a vessel clamping inner face and the latch means includes means for preventing relative lateral movement between the vessel clamping inner faces when the clip is in a closed position.