Abstract: A breather package for surgical elements such as sutures or suture-needle assemblies having a layer of fibrous material and a layer of plastic material forming a pocket therebetween. Longitudinal heat seals and transverse top and bottom seals are provided which form the package. The layer of fibrous material is provided with longitudinal strips of release agent material through which the longitudinal heat seals are formed. An apparatus for forming such a package is also disclosed.

Abstract: A semi-bioabsorbable connective tissue prosthesis, e.g., a replacement for the human anterior cruciate ligament, is provided whose stress-strain characteristics closely match those of the natural tissue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for placing fasteners and/or a reinforcement material in tissue is provided. The fasteners exit the fastener housing at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the device to facilitate visualization and placement at the surgical site. A unique fastener may be formed in which the legs are in a substantially overlapping, longitudinally-spaced relation.

Abstract: A breather package for surgical elements such as sutures or suture-needle assemblies having a layer of fibrous material and a layer of plastic material forming a pocket therebetween. Longitudinal heat seals and transverse top and bottom seals are provided which form the package. The layer of fibrous material is provided with longitudinal strips of release agent material through which the longitudinal heat seals are formed. An apparatus for forming such a package is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing a polypropylene monofilament suture exhibiting reduced strain energy, increased knot security and greater resistance to acquiring an in-storage set.

Abstract: A tissue gripping apparatus including a cylindrical member positioned about a tubular body portion or cannula. The cylindrical member includes a plurality of articulated arms that are movable between engageable and non-engageable positions. A hinge in the articulated arm enhances the tissue gripping abilities of the apparatus.

Abstract: A hemostatic clip to be applied to body structures such as veins, arteries, or the like. The hemostatic clip includes a plurality of preferably semicircular indentations arranged in staggered row configuration on the tissue contacting surface of the legs of the clip.

Abstract: A novel surgical retractor is provided including a handle assembly, a housing and a collapsible retractor assembly connected to a distal end of the housing. The handle assembly includes a stationary handle in cooperation with an actuating structure for manipulating the collapsible retractor assembly through the housing.The handle assembly may be configured in a variety of forms including palm grips, pistol grips, axial grips, ring grips, etc. The housing includes a tubular structure having an inner tube axially disposed within an outer tube. The outer tube is fixed in the stationary handle with the inner tube passing through the outer tube and connected to the actuating structure. Where desired, either the outer or inner tube may be rotatably attached to the stationary handle. The retractor assembly is attached to the distal end of the housing and includes a reciprocal yoke assembly interconnected with a plurality of collapsible interleaved retractor blades.

Abstract: A suture retainer is provided with an arrangement of suture-retaining tabs of complex configuration and needle-retaining tabs of a number and distribution which enable the retainer to accommodate any one of several types of combined surgical suture-needle devices.

Abstract: A surgical retractor is provided having an elongated tubular structure with a proximal and distal end. A plurality of interleaved retractor blades are pivotally mounted in a distal end of the tubular housing and are movable between a closed position wherein the blades are in stacked relation and an open position wherein the blades are deployed in an interleaved fan configuration. Various structure is provided on the tubular housing to move the blades between an open and closed position.

Abstract: A surgical stapling or fastening instrument for applying surgical staples or fasteners to tissue having a controlled closure mechanism to approximate the distance between the jaw members of the instrument. The controlled closure mechanism consists of a catch member having a resilient material secured thereto which engages a pivotable lance member which freezes the rotation of the catch member at an infinite number of desired locations along its path of rotation. Controlling the position of the catch member controls the distance between the jaw members of the stapling or fastening device.

Abstract: A disposable endoscope having an object lens assembly, a relay lens assembly, and an imaging lens assembly with at least the relay lens assembly optical elements being made in whole or in part of molded glass lenses. the relay lens assembly preferably consists of molded glass curved surface lenses arranged in triplet lens configuration with ground or molded glass rod lenses disposed between the curved surface lenses. In preferred embodiments the positive lens elements of each triplet assembly may be bonded in optical contact with the rod lenses or the rod lenses may constitute molded glass lenses incorporating the positive lenses of each triplet. Optical components of the objective and imaging lens assemblies may be of molded or ground glass, and illumination may be conducted by glass or plastic fibers.

Abstract: A suture is provided with a substantially solid spiroid braid construction. The suture exhibits greater flexibility, better hand and less chatter and drag than tubular braided sutures of known construction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to determine the sharpness of a curved surgical needle point by a measurement of the perpendicular forces required to push the needle point through a supported membrane at a given rate of penetration. The apparatus includes a needle penetration fixture having a needle penetrable membrane, a load cell, and related control and recordation instrumentation. According to the method a needle is mounted on a rotatable fixture and first precisely aligned. Thereafter, the fixture is rotated so as to cause the needle to penetrate the membrane whereby the force necessary to penetrate the membrane force being recorded by recordation instrumentation and the process being controlled by control instrumentation.

Abstract: A valve assembly adapted for introduction of an elongated object into a patient's body having a first valve formed of a resilient material and defining an aperture for reception of the object, the aperture being configured and dimensioned such that insertion of the object into the aperture will cause the resilient material defining the aperture to resiliently engage the outer surface of the object in a fluid tight manner. A second valve is positioned adjacent and distal of the first valve in general alignment therewith, whereby the second valve defines an aperture in general alignment with the aperture of the first valve, and is formed of a flexible material at least in the region defining the apeture. A pair of manually operable clamps are provided to selectively permit the aperture of the second valve to be opened or closed so as to permit entry of the object such that the object first passes through the first valve and then the second valve prior to entry into the patient's body.

Abstract: A breather package for surgical elements such as sutures or suture-needle assemblies having a layer of fibrous material and a layer of plastic material forming a pocket therebetween. Longitudinal heat seals and transverse top and bottom seals are provided which form the package. The layer of fibrous material is provided with longitudinal strips of release agent material through which the longitudinal heat seals are formed. An apparatus for forming such a package is also disclosed.

Abstract: An anvil member for use in a surgical stapler is annealed by localized heating, preferably induction heating. A shaped shielding means is used to cradle the anvil so as to expose the staple crimping portion of the anvil. The heating is performed so as to anneal only the delimited staple crimping portion of the anvil. All other portions of the anvil are either shielded by the cradle or are out of the heating range.