Abstract: A package for double-armed sutures, particularly ophthalmic sutures, comprising a one-piece folded packet having needle mounting means and suture loop retaining means which are readily accessible when the package is opened. The needle mounting means is preferably removable to allow the suture to be withdrawn from the package with the needles secured therein. The suture loop retaining means is optionally incorporated with the needle mounting means and removable therewith. The package contains a single, double-armed suture with both needles secured in the needle mounting means and with a loop substantially equidistant from each needle retained in the suture loop retaining means so that the suture may be cut at the loop to obtain two single-armed sutures of substantially equal length.

Abstract: The tie-down properties of multifilament surgical sutures are improved by coating the suture with an absorbable composition comprising a poly(alkylene oxalate) wherein the alkylene is a C.sub.6 or a mixture of C.sub.4 to C.sub.12 alkylene moieties. Braided sutures coated with from about 1 to 15 percent by weight of the composition are characterized by a smooth knot tie-down under both wet and dry conditions.

Abstract: A package for multiple strands of surgical sutures which provides for delivery of individual suture strands. The sutures are aligned into a bundle of substantially parallel strands and the bundle is wound in the form of a coil comprising a series of contiguous, overlapping convolutions, each convolution being laterally displaced from adjacent convolutions and disposed in sequence from one end of the suture to the other. The desired suture coil configuration is conveniently obtained by winding the suture bundle around two vertical winding pins in an upwardly spiraling pattern with successive loops being displaced laterally along the pins. The wound suture is packaged in a suture folder which is adapted to maintain the suture bundle in its wound configuration with one end of the suture bundle extending from the folder whereby individual suture strands may be grasped and withdrawn from the package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining a permanent visual record of the microbiological effectiveness of a sterilizing cycle is provided by a spore carrier strip having a plurality of individual spore colony sites defined on the surface thereof, each of said sites containing a different population of spores, as for example, 10.sup.2, 10.sup.3, 10.sup.4, 10.sup.5, and 10.sup.6. The spore carrier is exposed to the sterilizing cycle, then incubated in a sterile nutrient culture medium containing a color indicator for viable microorganisms such as 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. The development or lack of development of color on each spore colony site of successively increasing spore populations indicates the degree of effectiveness of the sterilizing cycle. The developed color is permanent and the carrier strip may be retained to provide a permanent visual record of the effectiveness of the sterilizing cycle.

Abstract: A surgical thread dispenser comprising a reel for holding the thread wound thereon, a reel case enclosing the reel on one side and around the periphery thereof with an opening in the periphery for dispensing the thread, and a finger ring attached to the casing and adapted so that when the ring is placed over one finger of the surgical practitioner, the reel case is positioned in the palm of the practitioner's hand and lengths of the surgical thread may be conveniently withdrawn from the dispenser.

Abstract: Melt extrudable thermoplastic polytetramethylene ether polyurethane-urea elastomers of this invention are prepared by reacting a tetramethylene ether glycol with 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate to form a polytetramethylene ether polyurethane pre-polymer having a number average molecular weight of from about 2,000 to about 10,000. This pre-polymer is water extended to form a thermoplastic bio-compatible elastomer having a number average molecular weight of about 50,000 to about 100,000, and a weight average molecular weight of about 300,000 to about 1,000,000. The elastomer so obtained has a softening point in the range of 127.degree. - 149.degree. C. and may be melt extruded without decomposition to produce articles useful in the field of medicine and surgery.

Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures and other surgical devices are prepared from polymers of p-dioxanone and 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, and alkyl substituted derivatives thereof. Monofilament sutures of oriented fibers are characterized by good tensile and knot strength and a high level of flexibility and softness. The sutures have good in vivo strength retention and are slowly absorbed without significant tissue reaction.

Abstract: A package for double-armed sutures equipped with a pledget and means for centering the pledget on the suture during removal of the suture from the package. The package comprises a double-armed suture in a storage compartment with the armed ends of the suture extending out of the compartment, a pledget slidably affixed to the suture strand approximate to one needle, and pledget centering means intermediate the pledget and said needle. Preferred pledget centering means comprise an integral passageway in the package material for the double suture strand and a barrier associated with said passageway which restrains the pledget as the suture is withdrawn from the package through the passageway, whereby the pledget is slidably displaced along the suture until the total length of the suture is withdrawn and the suture and pledget are released from the package.

Abstract: A coated, absorbable suture wherein a particular absorbable composition comprising a film-forming polymer, a lubricant and a hydrophobic material is provided for coating sutures, particularly multifilament synthetic absorbable sutures, in order to improve the smoothness in tie-down properties of the sutures.

Abstract: Multifilament suture strands are impregnated with an antimicrobial agent and top coated with a segmented polyurethane polymer. The coated sutures possess antimicrobial properties which are retained during use over extended periods of time.

Abstract: Braided silk surgical sutures having increased tensile strength and knot strength are prepared by (1) presoaking conventionally-prepared unstretched braided silk sutures in a non-corrosive liquid (preferably water) for at least about 30 minutes to wet the silk fibers, (2) stretching the presoaked sutures while the same are immersed in a non-corrosive liquid (preferably water), and then (3) drying the stretched silk sutures while maintaining the stretched length and not allowing shrinkage to occur during drying. The wet-stretching method of the invention makes possible the stretching of braided silk sutures to a greater extent than that obtainable by conventional hot-stretching techniques, up to about 21/2 times greater, without damage to the sutures. The wet-stretched sutures of the invention have greater tensile strength and knot strength than the prior art hot-stretched sutures of comparable diameter.

Abstract: A laminated package comprising two panels of a moisture impervious material such as aluminum foil coated on adjacent interior surfaces with a heat sealable resin such as polypropylene, and peripherally heat sealed at the edge margins with a continuous and substantially bubble free seal to enclose a moisture sensitive suture within the package. The package is highly resistant to penetration by water vapor, and moisture sensitive sutures thus packaged are well protected against degradation by atmospheric moisture diffusing into the package through the heat seal layer during storage.

Abstract: Folders of paper or similar foldable material which comprise at least three panels adapted to be folded in an overlapping relationship are provided with integral means for interlocking two of the panels to maintain the folder in the folded construction. The locking means comprise a tab extending from the edge of the outer end panel and a cooperating locking slot in the adjacent underlying panel adapted to receive the tab by forced bypass interlocking. The non-locking panels are provided with relief slots in the locking area to facilitate the forced bypass interlocking of the tab and lock-slot in the locking panels. Such folders are useful for packaging sutures.

Abstract: A surgical electrode consisting of an insulated stainless steel wire having needles conductively affixed at one or both ends, at least one needle having a blunt end with a straight shank and having a weakened zone between the straight shank end and the opposite pointed end of the needle whereby the pointed end may be snapped off and the straight shank used as an electrical jack for connection to a pacemaker or similar electric current generating or monitoring device. The electrodes are particularly useful as temporary heart pacer electrodes for cardiac stimulation during and after surgical operations.

Abstract: A method for closing wounds and surgical incisions in mammalian tissue which comprises fastening an approximated wound or incision with a series of devices comprising a short filament with a head on each end, each device being surgically placed so that the filament traverses the wound or incision within the tissue while one head of the device engages the surface of the tissue on either side of the wound or incision. Apparatus is provided for the surgical placement of the device.

Abstract: An all plastic retention catheter of the Foley type having a body of a thermoplastic polyurethane and a balloon of a thermosetting polyurethane. The catheter may be fabricated by a method wherein the thermosetting polyurethane balloon sleeve is molded with integral bands of a thermoplastic polyurethane polymer spaced at either end of the sleeve and subsequently sealed to the catheter body by fusing the thermoplastic bands to the body material with heat or solvent.

Abstract: Carbalkoxyalkyl 2-cyanoacrylates having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is an organic radical and R' is hydrogen or methyl polymerize rapidly in the presence of moisture and are useful as adhesives. When applied as tissue adhesives in surgical applications, such carbalkoxyalkyl 2-cyanoacrylates cause a minimum of tissue reaction and the resulting polymer is absorbable in mammalian tissue.

Abstract: A breathable, moisture vapor permeable pressure sensitive adhesive tape comprising a patterned, fibrillated polymeric film having 10 to 70 percent open area, coated on one side with a non-irritating pressure sensitive surgical adhesive. The polymeric film is composed of a plurality of substantially parallel monofilament strands interconnected by a plurality of fibrils. The physical structure of the tape combines good straight tensile strength with ease of tearability in two directions. The tape is permeable to both air and water vapor, and is substantially unaffected by contact with liquid water or body fluids. The tape is particularly useful for wound closure in certain surgical procedures.

Abstract: A surgical suture is coated with an ionically bonded block elastomeric copolymer of a polyquaternary polyurethane and a polyanionic polymer such as heparin. The coated suture is receptive to treatment with antimicrobial compounds to produce a suture having long-lasting antimicrobial properties which inhibit bacterial growth in and immediately around the suture. The coated suture is also receptive to dyes for the preparation of colored sutures. Surgical aids other than sutures such as films, fabrics, wound dressings and the like may be coated and rendered antimicrobial or colored in a like manner.