Abstract: A headband assembly, having a preferred orientation relative to a wearer's head, and including a closed form headband adapted to encircle a human head horizontally, thereby defining an inner surface and wherein at least one hard portion of the headband is hard relative to another portion of the headband. Also, a resiliently deformable wingset is supported by the headstrap subassembly on the inner surface, about the hard portion and includes a central part and two wings, each wing extending laterally outwardly from the central part, each wing extending forward as it extends laterally from the central part and having a wing end. A wingset holder, engaged to both the wing ends, so that at least a portion of the holder is suspended between the wing ends, thereby holding a wearer's head away from the hard portion when in use.

Abstract: A method of attaching target tissue to a pilot hole in a bone that utilizes a suture assembly having an anchor sleeve; a sliding suture, having a first end and a second end, and passing through the anchor sleeve; and a shuttle having a shuttle loop and a free end, opposed to the shuttle loop, and passing through the anchor sleeve, with the free end and the shuttle outside of the anchor sleeve. In the method, the sliding suture is passed about the target tissue and the first end is engaged to the shuttle loop. Then, the anchor sleeve is pushed into the pilot hole, and the free end is pulled to pull the shuttle into the anchor sleeve in the pilot hole, thereby setting the anchor sleeve into the pilot hole.

Abstract: A suture assembly, including a button having two apertures and a suture defining a lumen and forming a double loop, formed by a double trap formed in the suture, opposed to the button, and in which a first portion of the suture is threaded through the lumen of the double trap and a second portion of the suture is also threaded through the lumen of the double trap, so that two portions of suture are positioned together in the double trap. The first portion of the suture, after emerging from the double trap, is threaded through the lumen again, thereby forming a second trap, increasing resistance of the double loop to expansion, the double loop being threaded through the apertures of the button, the suture having two suture ends that are threaded through the button apertures and accessible on a side of the button opposed to the double loop.

Abstract: A suture and button construct, having an oblong button defining at least a first aperture and a second aperture; a suture length, including a braid defining a lumen and having a middle section and two end sections, each extending through a button aperture and both terminating in an end. Both ends have a needle attached. Also, two shuttles are engaged to the suture length, each having a free end and a loop end, terminating in a loop. Each shuttle enters the lumen in the middle section and extend through an aperture, while in the lumen and exit on the opposite button side from the middle section, so that both shuttle loops are available outside the lumen, to pull a suture end through the lumen and a button aperture.

Abstract: A soft anchor having a sleeve, being a circular braided suture defining a lumen, and defining a first terminus, having a first terminus opening and a second terminus having a second terminus opening. Also, a deployment suture is engaged to the sleeve by extending into the lumen through a first broach point, then out of the sleeve through the first terminus opening, then into the sleeve through a second broach point, on the bottom-side, and then out of the lumen though a third broach point, then into the lumen through the second terminus opening and out of the suture though a fourth broach point, thereby creating a first lateral trap, between the first broach point and the first terminus opening, a second lateral trap, between the second terminal opening and the fourth broach point, and a central trap, between the second and third broach points.

Abstract: A suture construct having a soft button, defining a multiplicity of first apertures and a set of second apertures. Also, a suture loop assembly has a suture defining a lumen and forming a double loop, formed by a double trap having a first end and a second end, formed in a trap region of the suture, and in which a first portion of the suture is threaded through the trap region lumen from the first end to the second end and the first portion extends out from the second end, and a second portion of the suture is threaded through the trap region lumen from the second end to the first end, and the second portion extends out from the first end. Finally, the double loop passes through the set of second apertures of the soft button.

Abstract: A high-efficiency lamp, emitting light from a front surface, and having a high-efficiency light source, producing a first light beam. An iris assembly has an annular body that defines a first annulus and has iris blades which can be extended into the annulus to form a second, smaller, annulus. This iris assembly is positioned relative to the light source so that the iris blades are in front of the high-efficiency light source. The annular body and therefore the first annulus have finite depth from back to front. A light guide is placed immediately behind the iris blades and defines a channel that is open at its back and its front and has a reflective interior surface, with the open back being transversely coincident to the light source so that light from the light source can travel through the channel to and out from the open front.

Abstract: A tendon repair suture tape comprising a flat braid of elastic, absorbable fibers and high strength fibers, the tape being at least 1 mm wide and 2 cm long, and less than 0.2 mm high. The suture tape includes at least 4 absorbable fibers and at least 4 high strength fibers. Further, the suture tape is capable of being stretched at least 10% from its shortest length to the length at which it breaks, presents an increasing resistance to further stretching as it is stretched, and is capable of withstanding a load of at least 260 Newtons before breaking.

Abstract: A suture construct having a soft button, defining a multiplicity of first apertures and a set of second apertures. Also, a suture loop assembly has a suture defining a lumen and forming a double loop, formed by a double trap having a first end and a second end, formed in a trap region of the suture, and in which a first portion of the suture is threaded through the trap region lumen from the first end to the second end and the first portion extends out from the second end, and a second portion of the suture is threaded through the trap region lumen from the second end to the first end, and the second portion extends out from the first end. Finally, the double loop passes through the set of second apertures of the soft button.

Abstract: A needle package having a sealed outer pouch made of a first material, which is permeable to a sterilizing gas but that is impenetrable to microbes and an inner pouch filled with needles, and made of a second material, which is tough and flexible. Also, an intermediate holder, holding the inner pouch, is sealed within the outer pouch, the intermediate holder being made of a third material having greater rigidity than the second material, and defining an interior volume. Further, sterile surgical needles are held within the inner pouch and the intermediate holder constrains the inner pouch to the interior volume, thereby restricting freedom of movement of the needles to reduce needle repositioning during shipment.

Abstract: A method of effecting a tendon repair in a patient comprising providing a suture tape, using the suture tape to connect tendon tissue to bone of the patient such that the suture tape lays flat on the tendon, and permitting ingrowth of the tendon tissue into the suture tape as the absorbable fibers are absorbed into the patient's tissue. The suture tape is a flat braid of elastic, absorbable fibers and high strength fibers, the tape being at least 1 mm wide and 2 cm long, and less than 1 mm high. The suture tape includes at least 4 absorbable fibers and at least 4 high strength fibers. Further, the suture tape is capable of being stretched at least 10% from its shortest length to the length at which it breaks and is capable of withstanding a load of at least 260 Newtons before breaking.

Abstract: A soft anchor construct, having a cross-member suture of braided suture material and a cinching suture that has a first end and a second end. The cinching suture, starting at its first end, extends to the cross-member suture, and engages and traverses the cross-member suture at a first central point and then extends from the first central point to a first lateral point, and engages and traverses the cross-member suture at the first lateral point. The cinching suture then extends from the first lateral point to a second lateral point, opposed to the first lateral point, and engages and traverses the cross-member suture at the second lateral point and then extends from the second lateral point to a second central point and engages and traverses the cross-member suture at the second central point and extends from the second central point to the second end.

Abstract: A method of effecting a tendon repair in a patient comprising providing a suture tape, using the suture tape to connect tendon tissue to bone of the patient such that the suture tape lays flat on the tendon, and permitting ingrowth of the tendon tissue into the suture tape as the absorbable fibers are absorbed into the patient's tissue. The suture tape is a flat braid of elastic, absorbable fibers and high strength fibers, the tape being at least 1 mm wide and 2 cm long, and less than 1 mm high. The suture tape includes at least 4 absorbable fibers and at least 4 high strength fibers. Further, the suture tape is capable of being stretched at least 10% from its shortest length to the length at which it breaks and is capable of withstanding a load of at least 260 Newtons before breaking.

Abstract: A method of sewing preserved animal tissue to a manmade work piece that forms a part of a prospective bioprosthetic heart valve. The method utilizes a needle having an attached suture length and also having a relative object visibility of less than 0.8 relative to a standard straight surgical needle. Also, this needle has a volume of less than 7 mm3 and a surface area of less than 70 mm2, is formed entirely of 300 series stainless steel, and has an eye, and the suture length is threaded through the eye. The needle having an attached suture length is used to manually sew the animal tissue to the manmade work piece that forms a part of the prospective bioprosthetic heart valve, while maintaining sufficient optical closeness to maintain the visibility of the needle.

Abstract: Fixation assemblies having a button captured by a continuous (i.e., closed) loop of thread, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber are disclosed herein. Preferred assemblies are constructed such that the intact button cannot be detached from the continuous loop without breaking or opening the loop of fiber. The closed fiber advantageously contains at least one or two stitched, or otherwise secured or reinforced, sections positioned on the loop.

Abstract: A method of anchoring a suture into a pilot hole in bone utilizing a suture anchor. A lumen-defining circular soft wall, having a first and second end, is slidably engaged to a piece of suture, a first length of which extends from the first end of the wall and is threaded through the lumen from the second end, and a second length of which extends from the second end and is threaded through the lumen from the first end. The suture anchor is introduced into the pilot hole so that the first length and second length of suture material extend out of the pilot hole. The first length and second length are pulled on alternately, thereby permitting the suture anchor structure to slide on the piece of suture material, and to be compacted evenly by the pulling, until the suture anchor is set in the pilot hole.

Abstract: A suture anchor assembly, adapted to be attached to a bone, that includes an anchor, which has an undeployed state in which it is soft and flexible, and which can be deployed into a deployed state which is compacted and hard, relative to the undeployed state, and defining a hold region, where the anchor is optimally held as the anchor is deployed. Also, one or more deployment strands are engaged into the anchor and extend out of the anchor, and wherein, when the anchor is in the undeployed state, holding the anchor at the hold region and pulling on the deployment strands compacts the anchor into the deployed state. Accordingly, the anchor can be introduced into a hole in bone and held in place at the hold region, as it is transformed into the deployed state by pulling on the deployment strands, thereby anchoring the anchor in the hole.

Abstract: A high-efficiency medical headlamp, emitting light from a front surface, and having a high-efficiency light source, producing a first light beam. An iris assembly has an annular body that defines a first annulus and has iris blades which can be extended into the annulus to form a second, smaller, annulus. This iris assembly is positioned relative to the light source so that the iris blades are in front of the high-efficiency light source. The annular body and therefore the first annulus have finite depth from back to front. A light guide is placed immediately behind the iris blades and defines a channel that is open at its back and its front and has a reflective interior surface, with the open back being transversely coincident to the light source so that light from the light source can travel through the channel to and out from the open front.

Abstract: A medical headlamp headband assembly, having a preferred orientation relative to a wearer's head, and comprising a closed form headband, adapted to encircle a human head horizontally, thereby defining a head-facing side and having a tightness adjustment feature in a rear central location relative to a wearer's head when the headband assembly is worn in its preferred orientation. A tightness adjustment subassembly, at a central rear location, is opposed to the front location. A resiliently deformable wing-set is supported by the headstrap subassembly on the head-facing side, about the tightness adjustment subassembly and including a central part and two wings, each extending laterally outwardly from the central part. Each wing extends forward as it extends laterally from the central part, to contact the wearer's head at a rear side location, thereby holding the tightness adjustment assembly back from the wearer's head.

Abstract: A suture and button construct, having an oblong button defining at least a first aperture and a second aperture; a suture length, including a braid defining a lumen and having a middle section and two end sections, each extending through a button aperture and both terminating in an end. Both ends have a needle attached. Also, two shuttles are engaged to the suture length, each having a free end and a loop end, terminating in a loop. Each shuttle enters the lumen in the middle section and extend through an aperture, while in the lumen and exit on the opposite button side from the middle section, so that both shuttle loops are available outside the lumen, to pull a suture end through the lumen and a button aperture.