Abstract: A needle shield for use in conjunction with a suture package includes foldable panels of puncture-resistant material bendable at perforated fold lines to wrap around a needled suture retainer. A tabbed locking means secures the needle shield in a closed configuration. The needle retainer and shield are loaded into an outer envelope and sterilized to provide a sterile packaged suture. A method of assembling the package is disclosed wherein a needled suture is loaded into the retainer, the needle shield is folded around the retainer, and the needle retainer and needle shield are loaded into and sealed within an outer envelope.

Abstract: A suture retainer for storing at least one suture having a needle attached thereto comprises a molded base panel having a passageway formed therein for accommodating a suture portion, a cover sheet affixed to the molded base panel to enclose the passageway and at least one needle holding park integrally formed with the molded base panel and extending through at least one opening formed in the cover sheet. The needle holding park defines a groove dimensioned and configured to receive a suture needle and frictionally engage the outer surfaces of the needle to secure the needle to the retainer.

Abstract: A retainer for a combined surgical needle-suture device possesses a needle shield featuring a stop element which prevents the tip of the needle from puncturing the package in which the retainer is held.

Abstract: A retainer package is provided for receiving, and maintaining for ready removal, at least one resilient surgical suture in a coiled configuration. The package includes a plurality of interconnected panels which may be folded upon one another to form a means for housing the resilient sutures. The package is formed with a loading port defining a radially unobstructed passageway for receiving the resilient sutures coils. Structure may be associated with the package for securely maintaining surgical needles for ready removal.

Abstract: A package is provided for retaining a plurality of surgical sutures which includes a housing and a plurality of superimposed suture retainer reels disposed within the housing. Each of the suture retainer reels has a peripheral channel defined therein for maintaining a wound suture in such a manner so that the wound suture in one of said peripheral channels is disposed in an annular vertical plane which is substantially distinct from the annular vertical plane in which an adjacent wound suture is disposed. Structure is associated with the housing for maintaining the suture retainer reels in superimposed relationship. The package may also be provided with a needle park for releasably maintaining surgical needles in a position for ready removal.

Abstract: A needle shield for use in conjunction with a suture package includes foldable panels of puncture-resistant material bendable at perforated fold lines to wrap around a needled suture retainer. A tabbed locking means secures the needle shield in a closed configuration. The needle retainer and shield are loaded into an outer envelope and sterilized to provide a sterile packaged suture. A method of assembling the package is disclosed wherein a needled suture is loaded into the retainer, the needle shield is folded around the retainer, and the needle retainer and needle shield are loaded into and sealed within an outer envelope.

Abstract: A package for an endoscopic suture system, the system including an elongated body, a suture, a needle attached to the suture, and a suture retainer, the suture further being connected to and extending from the elongated body, extending into a suture retainer and terminating in the needle. The package includes a first channel for receiving the elongated body and which is formed in a first plane. A second channel for receiving the suture retainer is formed in a plane below the first plane. A first plurality of flanges retain the elongated body in the first channel and a second plurality of flanges retain the suture retainer in the second channel.

Abstract: A retainer for a combined surgical needle-suture device possesses a needle shield featuring a stop element which prevents the tip of the needle from puncturing the package in which the retainer is held.

Abstract: A retainer for an elongated surgical implement, includes a middle panel and distal and proximal end panels which are foldably connected to the middle panel so as to be movable to an overlap configuration. The proximal end panel has gussets for dividing the panel into two portions, one of which contacts a surface of the middle panel and the other of which is spaced apart from the surface of the middle panel to create a cavity within which the instrument is positioned. The retainer includes tabs for locking the end panels in their overlap configuration.

Abstract: A retainer for a combined surgical needle suture device, or armed suture, possesses a cut-away region and integral slot which facilitates loading and removal of the armed suture therefrom.

Abstract: A retainer package is provided for receiving, and maintaining for ready removal, at least one resilient surgical suture in a coiled configuration. The package includes a plurality of interconnected panels which may be folded upon one another to form a means for housing the resilient sutures. The package is formed with a loading port defining a radially unobstructed passageway for receiving the resilient sutures coils. Structure may be associated with the package for securely maintaining surgical needles for ready removal.

Abstract: A package is provided for retaining at least one resilient surgical suture. The package includes a base member which is formed with an annular recessed portion and a circumjacent flexible flange portion. The package further includes an annular cover member which is mounted adjacent to the annular recessed portion of the base member to form a peripheral retaining channel into which a resilient surgical sutures may be loaded subsequent to the construction of the package. The package may also include needle park means.

Abstract: A suture package for holding needle suture combinations individually on removable insert strips. The suture package includes three folding panels, two of which releasably hold the insert strips by means of tabs, and one of which is a cover panel. At least one needle-suture combination is mounted on each strip.

Abstract: A package is provided for retaining at least one armed surgical suture including housing means having suture retention means formed therein and a needle securement area integrally formed in the housing means At least one porthole is defined in the needle securement area which is dimensioned and positioned for maintaining a surgical needle for ready removal.

Abstract: A package is provided for receiving and retaining at least one resilient surgical suture arranged in a coil configuration. The package is formed with a loading port which defines a radially unobstructed passageway through which a resilient surgical suture coil may be loaded and thereafter caused to uncoil and expand radially outward into a retaining channel. The package may include needle park means for securely maintaining armed sutures in a manner for ready removal.