Abstract: Wheelchair designs and enhancements are provided for use with conventional wheelchair designs. The designs and enhancements include first and second contoured folding seat panels that are hingedly mounted with respect to the wheelchair frame and that are offer interlocking functionality. The folding seats generally provide contouring in both front-to-back and side-to-side directions. Features are provided to prevent capture of objects between seat panels as they are brought into interlocking engagement. Pivotal footrests that offer enhanced stability in the form of lateral, front-to-back and up-down stability are provided In addition, axle and axle plate combinations are described that provide enhanced flexibility in relative positioning with respect to the wheelchair frame. The disclosed features and functionalities may be incorporated into wheelchair designs, either in whole or in part, to provide enhanced user interaction with the wheelchair.

Abstract: A porous bioabsorbable surgical implant material is prepared by coating particles of bioabsorbable polymer with tissue ingrowth promoter. Typical bioabsorbable polymers include polymers of glycolide, lactide, caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, dioxanone, and physical and chemical combinations thereof. The tissue ingrowth promoter can include calcium hydroxide and/or a hydrophilic coating material. The hydrophilic coating material can be bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable. A typical non-bioabsorbable hydrophilic coating material is polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA). The bioabsorbable implant material may also contain a therapeutic agent. Typical therapeutic agents include an antimicrobial agent, dye, growth factors and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for vacuum-packaging and heat sealing a soft product, particularly a soft product comprised substantially of fabric or other similar sheet material (referred to herein as "soft product"), having a substantially impervious outer covering in an impervious packaging barrier bag, which provides a packaged product which is compact and uniformly shaped. An air flow panel is inserted between the barrier bag and the product to permit air flow between the impervious layer of the soft product and the impervious layer of the barrier bag such that there is even air flow from the barrier bag during the evacuation of air from the barrier bag during vacuum-packaging. A packing frame is used during vacuum-packaging which assists in creating a compact, uniformly shaped vacuum-packed soft product.

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

Abstract: A method for calendering a suture includes passing the suture lengthwise between two pairs of calendering rollers each pair being oriented orthogonally to the other pair. The suture may be coated and/or filled by passing it through the contacting region of a suture filling applicator to which filling agent is supplied by a metering pump. The filling process may be computer controlled.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for braiding fine denier yarns to form a braided suture product which includes a frame, and a main carrier support plate supported on the frame and having a pair of undulating guide channels intersecting each other for guiding a plurality of yarn carriers. A plurality of yarn carriers are supported on the main carrier support plate, and each supports a bobbin for dispensing fine denier yarn. The yarn carriers are directed over intersecting paths corresponding to the shape of the guide channels, with a first set of the carriers being directed in a first direction and a second set of the carriers being directed in the opposite direction. The yarns are received in a common braiding zone above the yarn carriers while the yarn carriers are directed through the intersecting paths of the guide channels to form a braided sheath from the yarns.

Abstract: A braided suture possesses a cable core which resists any tendency to protrude through the surrounding braid structure.

Abstract: A method for calendering a suture includes passing the suture lengthwise between two pairs of calendering rollers each pair being oriented orthogonally to the other pair. The suture may be coated and/or filled by passing it through the contacting region of a suture filling applicator to which filling agent is supplied by a metering pump. The filling process may be computer controlled.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable surgical suture which includes at least one multifilament yarn having at least one portion wherein the filaments of the yarn are entangled. The suture has a core formed by combining a length of the entangled yarn with a length of at least one other entangled yarn to form a plied yarn which is then entangled and twisted in a particular direction. This entangled and twisted yarn is then combined with another entangled and twisted yarn, both yarns having been twisted in the same direction. The combined yarns are then twisted together in the opposite direction to form a suture core.

Abstract: A surgical device for use in a ligating procedure in which a looped suture is slidably secured by a securement member. In a preferred embodiment a loop is formed in a suture and the end of the suture is slidably secured relative to the suture body portion by a shrinkable tubing. One or more slip knots are contemplated within or adjacent the shrinkable tubing. The second suture end may be secured to a shaft member in a traditional manner.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for braiding fine denier yarns to form a braided suture product which includes a frame, and a main carrier support plate supported on the frame and having a pair of undulating guide channels intersecting each other for guiding a plurality of yarn carriers. A plurality of yarn carriers are supported on the main carrier support plate, and each supports a bobbin for dispensing fine denier yarn. A guiding system is provided for directing the yarn carriers over intersecting paths corresponding to the shape of said guide channels, with a first set of the carriers being directed in a first direction and a second set of the carriers being directed in the opposite direction. A take-up system is positioned above the yarn carriers to provide reception of the yarns in a common braiding zone while the yarn carriers are directed through the intersecting paths of the guide channels to form a braided sheath from the yarns.

Abstract: A heat tipping method and apparatus for surgical sutures to facilitate inserting the sutures into the barrel ends of surgical needles. The method comprises tensioning the suture, heating a portion of the suture to be heat tipped by blowing a current of hot air across the portion of the suture, and releasing the tension and cutting the portion of the suture to create heat tipped ends. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum around which the suture is wound, a concave channel in the drum for delimiting a portion of the suture to be heated, and hot air blowers for heating the delimited portions of the suture to a heat tipping temperature. In another embodiment, the suture is looped and knotted. The loop and/or knot is then heated under such conditions so as to reversibly stiffen the loop and/or knot. Such stiffening facilitates placement and securement of the suture loop during surgical procedures.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for braiding fine denier yarns to form a braided suture product which includes a carrier housing, a main carrier support plate for guiding a plurality of yarn carriers through predetermined paths while dispensing fine denier yarns toward a braiding zone. Each yarn carrier has a spindle for mounting a molded bobbin, with a spindle tip having a recess engageable with resilient leg portions of a bobbin hold down member hingedly mounted for rotation relative to the carrier housing. Tension on the yarn controls rotational movement of the bobbin to dispense yarn therefrom, and the tension of the final braided suture product is controlled to form a product of predetermined uniform appearance.

Abstract: A porous bioabsorbable surgical implant material is prepared by coating particles of bioabsorbable polymer with a tissue ingrowth promoter. Typical polymers include polymers of glycolide, lactide, caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, dioxanone and physical and chemical combinations thereof. The tissue ingrowth promoter can include calcium hydroxide and/or a hydrophillic coating material. The hydrophillic coating material can be bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable. A typical non-bioabsorbable hydrophillic coating material is polyhydroxymethylmethacrylate (PHEMA). The bioabsorbable implant material may also contain a therapeutic agent. Typical therapeutic agents include an antimicrobial agent, dye, growth factor and combinations thereof. Typically, the particles are prepared by rotary atomization and coated by spraying.

Abstract: Textile surgical articles are disclosed which are constructed in whole or in part from high tenacity low elongation fibers such as ultra-high molecular weight extended chain polyethylene high tenacity fibers. The products may be braided, woven or knitted, such as braided tapes, hollow braids and spiroid braids. The high tenacity low elongation fibers provide structures having greatly increased strength and decreased elongation, a combination of properties which is uniquely applicable and superior for repairing body tissue. The products may be plasma treated to reduce slip.

Abstract: A method for calendering a suture includes passing the suture lengthwise between two pairs of calendering rollers each pair being oriented orthogonally to the other pair. The suture may be coated and/or filled by passing it through the contacting region of a suture filling applicator to which filling agent is supplied by a metering pump. The filling process may be computer controlled.

Abstract: A suture strand is subjected to dynamic treatment by passing the suture with multiple turns around at least two godets located within a heating zone provided by an oven. The suture strand can be bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable, and either monofilament or multifilament. A combination of large and small diameter godets in the oven can achieve dynamic relaxation or stretching.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing vaporizable components from polymeric products effects uniform distribution of heat over such products contained within a chamber. The apparatus includes a heated chamber having support means for supporting the products within the chamber. Omnidirectional multi-point gas dispersion means located within the chamber uniformly disperse heated gas over the product. The vaporizable components are evacuated from the chamber along with the gas. The product can be rotated during treatment to ensure uniform exposure of the product to heat and gas.

Abstract: A method for making a multifilament suture yarn includes jet entangling the filaments of the suture yarn prior to other operations such as twisting and braiding. A multifilament braided suture is made of air entangled suture yarns, such as by braiding. The suture may include a core constructed of entangled yarns, preferably in the form of a cabled core constructed of multiple entangled yarns plied together, the plied yarns being air entangled and twisted in a first direction. Multiple entangled plied yarns twisted in the first direction are combined and twisted in a second opposite direction to form a cabled core.

Abstract: A braided suture possesses a cable core which resists any tendency to protrude through the surrounding braid structure.