Abstract: The invention contemplates a surgical apparatus for manipulating a surgical incision member and an associated loading mechanism for replacing the surgical incision member. The surgical apparatus comprises an elongated body portion, first and second jaw elements extending from the body portion, securing member for securing the surgical incision member, releasing member cooperating with the securing member for releasing the surgical incision member and locking member cooperating with the securing member for preventing at least one of the jaw elements from moving.

Abstract: A holder for a suture anchor having a suture coupled to the suture anchor and at least one suture needle attached to the suture, the holder comprising a planar member of generally rectangular shape having a cutout at each corner of the member about which sutures can be wound, the member having at least one channel formed therein for receiving the surgical needle and a receptacle formed therein for receiving the suture anchor, and further comprising a channel formed in the member for frictionally engaging the suture at a point along the length of the suture close to the suture anchor, thereby allowing the suture anchor to be removed from the holder without causing the suture to unwind from the holder.

Abstract: A suture package having a base member, an upwardly extending outer wall about the periphery of the base member, a plurality of grooves in the base member for receiving a suture, and a top lid member. The package has a central needle park and a discharge opening in the lid member for removing a needle and suture from the package. The package may alternatively have spoke members and rib members extending up from the base member containing grooves which form a suture channel for receiving a suture.

Abstract: A flexible surgical screw retainer and method for holding a surgical screw within a sterilizable package and dispensing the screw in a controlled manner at a selected site. The retainer has an elongated recess into which a surgical screw may be placed in order to be retained by frictional engagement with the side walls of the recess. The recess is sized to any of a variety of screw sizes. When the package is opened, the surgical screw retainer may be removed and grasped by a user and squeezed in order to disengage the screw from the recess and enable it to fall to a selected surface.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a magazine that is loaded with a needle and an attached length of suture pre-tied in a knot on the magazine. The magazine is used in loading the needle onto a stitching surgical instrument and in loading the tied length of suture onto a suture tying surgical instrument.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus is provided for manipulating a surgical needle and an associated loading mechanism is provided for replacing the surgical needle. The surgical apparatus comprises an elongated body portion, first and second jaw elements extending from the body portion, securing means for securing the surgical needle, releasing means cooperating with the securing means for releasing the surgical needle and locking means cooperating with the securing means for preventing at least one of the jaw elements from moving. A loading mechanism is also provided and includes structure for supporting a surgical needle and a storage member for retaining at least a portion of a length of suture material attached to the surgical needle.

Abstract: The invention features a suture pack including a suture having needles at its ends and a pledget between the ends. The suture can be removed from the pack by pulling on one of the needles without becoming tangled on itself or on other sutures that preferably also are included in the pack. The suture package includes a support having a first retainer holding one of the needles, a second retainer holding the other needle, and a third retainer holding the pledget separately from either of the needles. The first retainer is positioned above the second and third retainers and the third retainer is offset horizontally from the second retainer. The support may also include a fourth retainer, positioned below the second retainer for holding the suture. Preferably the first, second and fourth retainers are vertically aligned.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus is provided for manipulating a surgical needle and an associated loading mechanism is provided for replacing the surgical needle. The surgical apparatus comprises an elongated body portion, first and second jaw elements extending from the body portion, securing means for securing the surgical needle, releasing means cooperating with the securing means for releasing the surgical needle and locking means cooperating with the securing means for preventing at least one of the jaw elements from moving. A loading mechanism is also provided and includes structure for supporting a surgical needle and a storage member for retaining at least a portion of a length of suture material attached to the surgical needle.

Abstract: A loading unit is disclosed for supplying multiple surgical needles or surgical incision members and associated lengths of suture material for positioning the needle or surgical incision member within the jaws of a surgical suturing apparatus. The loading unit generally includes a body portion having apparatus receiving structure for receipt of the surgical suturing apparatus and a carousel rotatably affixed to the body portion and containing a plurality of supply stations thereon. The supply stations generally include a support member for supporting a central portion of a surgical needle and a storage member for temporarily securing a length of suture material associated with the surgical needle. The apparatus receiving structure includes structure for aligning and maintaining the surgical suturing apparatus in position on the loading unit until such time as a surgical incision member has been inserted into jaws associated with the surgical suturing apparatus.

Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.

Abstract: An improved surgical suture package has a back panel and a cover flap foldably connected to one side of the back panel. The back panel and cover flap each have a coordinating surface. The improvement comprises a plurality of embossed patterns on the coordinating surfaces of the back panel and cover flap.

Abstract: A sterile delivery system for a dental implant comprising a vial and cap with a detachable driver. The dental implant is secured to the driver by a screw. Once the implant has been secured in the jaw of a patient, the driver is removed and the screw is replaced on the implant root portion as a healing screw. In this fashion, the total number of parts required, and the number of parts contacting the implant are reduced, thus reducing the possibility of infection and simplifying the number of components in the sterile delivery system.

Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.

Abstract: A T-fastener installation kit includes a packaging device for loading the T-fastener into a slotted needle without requiring the hands of the surgeon to touch the sharp end of the needle. T-fasteners may be commonly used, for example, in surgical procedures in which the T-fasteners are used to secure a patient's stomach or bowel in apposition to the abdominal wall. The packaging device includes a housing having a cylindrical recess into which the "T" head of the T-fastener is loaded. The surgeon can slide the open end of the slotted needle into the cylindrical recess and over the "T" head of the T-fastener, thereby effectively loading the T-fastener into the slotted needle without requiring the surgeon to touch the sharp point of the needle.

Abstract: A cartridge for storing and retaining a plurality of medical ligating devices such as hemostatic clips and surgical staples, the cartridge having a movable device retaining member situated in each device chamber. The retaining member is adapted to frictionally engage the legs of an open C-shaped device and is further adapted to be displaced away from engagement with the device when it is engaged in the jaws of a forceps-type applier. In one embodiment, the retaining member is adapted to fit between the legs of an open hemostatic clip and is further adapted to be displaced downwardly away from the clip when the clip is engaged by a clip applier. The disclosure further includes a method of storing hemostatic clips in a cartridge, the method incorporating retaining the clip within the cartridge by a separable member which is displaceable from engagement with a clip when the clip is engaged by a clip applier.

Abstract: A holder for storing and retaining a plurality of hemostatic clips. The holder is produced as an integrally molded unitary piece having a plurality of longitudinally spaced chambers, each having a central post to support a clip and integrally formed guiding means for guiding the jaws of an associated forceps-type clip applier by which a clip within a selected chamber may be removed from the cartridge. A pair of opposing projections are formed in the walls of each clip chamber at a point spaced above the central post, the projections serving to loosely retain a clip in the chamber between the projections and the central post.

Abstract: A cartridge for housing a plurality of surgical clips that have opposed, hinged leg portions. The cartridge includes a base member having cavities formed therein and a retainer having openings formed therein that are in alignment with and configured to correspond to the configuration of the cavities. Retainer member is attached to the base member in a suitable manner such as a press fit connection.

Abstract: A reel-type surgical suture dispenser features an extension member on the suture reel receptacle, there being positioned upon the extension member an upwardly projecting suture-retaining slotted member which facilitates dispensing of the suture and retaining thereon the terminal section of a length of suture withdrawn from the reel.

Abstract: A package is provided for a combined surgical suture-needle device featuring a peelable, or strippable, closure flap.

Abstract: An oval wrap suture package that permits sutures to be dispensed with less likelihood of suture binding is provided. In one embodiment, the package has a suture winding channel with semicircular end sections whose radii are unequal. In another embodiment of the invention, the suture package is molded from a polymeric resin mixture that includes at least 4% oleamide.

Abstract: A holder for retaining a plurality of hemostatic or ligating clips. The holder retains a single clip in each chamber and is intended to be used with a forceps-type clip applier, the jaws of which may be inserted into a desired chamber to retrieve a clip therefrom. Each individual chamber is formed of a pair of facing transverse walls and a central post which loosely supports a hemostatic clip. Each transverse wall has at least one resilient flap extending downwardly and inwardly in such a way that the bottommost portion of the resilient flap contact the side of the body of the clip in the chamber. The holder is ideally suited to retain plastic or polymer clips and may be made as an assembly of discrete components or in a single, molded integral form.

Abstract: A container and dispenser for an aneurysm clip adapted to receive many different sizes of aneurysm clips and to hold them in a position which facilitates easy removal of the clip from the container. The holder has a generally rectangular body, a detent projecting from its bottom surface and a platform extending from its front surface. the front surface also includes a recess in which is placed a number of projections for supporting various size aneurysm clips.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge having a plurality of compartments for holding preformed hemostatic clips. Each compartment is dimensioned wide enough to hold a clip and to allow a clip applicator, which is wider than a clip, to be inserted without deforming the walls of the compartment. Each compartment has a center post or pedestal, dimensioned to be smaller than the inside dimension of a clip, that loosely supports a clip in the compartment. Centering protrusions are positioned symmetrically along the sides of the pedestal and along the walls of the compartment to help center the clip within the compartment. Each clip is held in place by two fingers that extend into the ends of the compartment and contact the clip. These fingers are made of a flexible material that allows the applicator to push the fingers aside as the applicator enters the compartment to grip a clip, and the fingers are angled and dimensioned to be long enough to remain in contact with the clip until after the applicator contacts the clip.

Abstract: A hemostatic clip cartridge for automatically moving a plurality of pre-formed clips to a delivery station of the cartridge while reducing jamming of the clips in the cartridge is disclosed. Jamming is reduced both by using a constant force spring and employing flat surfaces on a portion of opposite sides of the clip located in the plane of the clip. Heart shaped clips having such flat surfaces are also disclosed.

Abstract: A molded two-piece suture package is disclosed which encloses and defines an oval channel in which sutures may be wound. The oval channel has two semicircular end sections connected by straight side sections. An opening in the channel is provided at the juncture of a straight section and an end section, permitting sutures to be withdrawn from the channel at the end of a straight section. In a preferred embodiment the interior wall of the channel is formed by alternating engaging sections formed in the respective package pieces. To prevent the wrapped suture from becoming entrapped when the two pieces are engaged, the top and bottom of the channel is alternately raised and lowered in alignment with the alternating wall sections, causing the wound suture to bridge those areas where it may become entrapped between the mating package pieces. Entrapment of the suture end at the outside of the channel is prevented by alternately recessing the outer wall of the channel.

Abstract: A cartridge for holding and dispensing hemostatic clips, comprises a plurality of generally U-shaped hemostatic clips, and a unitary, molded cartridge body having clip-receiving slots with internal clip-supporting posts, and retaining projections in each slot formed on the opposed walls defining the slot. The retaining projections are located adjacent to the top of the post within the slot and extend toward the opposite wall. Each retaining projection has a clip-engaging surface and is tapered so that it gradually increases in thickness, from a narrow bottom portion adjacent the top of the post means to a wider intermediate portion above the narrow bottom portion, so that the clip engaging surface overhangs the post to provide secure retention of the clip in the slot.

Abstract: A container and dispenser for aneurysm clips is shown which allows the aneurysm clips to be magnified as they are displayed to the user to facilitate easy removal of the clip from the container. The container includes a base preferably made of silicone or some other rubber like material with slits for holding the jaws of an aneurysm clip and a platform for raising the coil and arms of a clip above the top surface of the base. The container also includes a generally disc shaped magnifier housing for a containing a plurality of magnifying lenses and a shaft extending into a corresponding bore in the base. A locking ring attached to the shaft is used to control the distance the magnifier housing can be moved above the top surface of the base so that the clips will be in focus for the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge having a plurality of compartments for holding preformed hemostatic clips. Each compartment is dimensioned wide enough to hold a clip and to allow a clip applicator, which is wider than a clip, to be inserted without deforming the walls of the compartment. Each compartment has a center post or pedestal, dimensioned to be smaller than the inside dimension of a clip, that loosely supports a clip in the compartment. Centering protrusions are positioned symmetrically along the sides of the pedestal and along the walls of the compartment to help center the clip within the compartment. Each clip is held in place by two fingers that extend into the ends of the compartment and contact the clip. These fingers are made of a flexible material that allows the applicator to push the fingers aside as the applicator enters the compartment to grip a clip, and the fingers are angled and dimensioned to be long enough to remain in contact with the clip until after the applicator contacts the clip.

Abstract: For use in suturing: (a) Thin steel needle put into flesh (using a tool) on one side of the wound until anchor fixed to a needle engages flesh. At that time point of needle will protrude. Anchor crimped on the protruding side; (b) Anchors are in ball form with square cavities to accept projections on hand tool; (c) Plier-like tool used to grab anchors has projection which fits into anchor cavities; (d) dispenser for needle/anchor assembly and dispenser for crimp-on anchor provide for quick removal in sterilized condition.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for placing linear staple sutures comprises a body having a closed rectangular frame, each of the lateral sides of said frame being provided with a slot which is located on the inner surface of said laterial side close to the adjacent side of said frame, the axis of said slot being parallel to each of said lateral sides; a die provided with a plurality of recessess and secured on the adjacent side of the frame, the extreme recesses of said die being arranged inside the slots on the frame lateral sides; a staple head accommodated in the body; a detachable staple magazine having a plurality of staple slots and adapted to be so positioned that its portions provided with extreme staple slots should engage the slots in the lateral sides of the frame; a staple ejector, and actuators of the staple head and of the staple ejector, respectively.

Abstract: The sealed package is sterilized with a sterilant gas such as ethylene oxide prior to application of a desiccant pack. The desiccant pack is applied after sterilization and held in place by a metallic foil which is impermeable to moisture. A moisture permeable layer separates the desiccant pack from the plastic tray-like layer in which the surgical instrument is disposed. Absorbable co-polymer staples are maintained moisture-free by virtue of the desiccant pack being located on the opposite side of the moisture permeable layer.

Abstract: An improved hemostatic clip cartridge wherein hemostatic clips are stored prior to use is disclosed. The cartridge, having a number of parallel walls defining individual clip compartments in which the clips are stored, is provided with outwardly extending channel members that extend into each clip compartment. The opposed channel members are positioned to releasably secure a clip therebetween. An applicator is provided so that an individual clip may be removed from its compartment without releasing the remaining clips.

Abstract: A carrier for armed sutures comprises a flat elongated card of foam material shaped to form a body portion, neck portion and head portion. A shaped cut adjacent the neck portion of the card permits the separation of the head portion for utilization as a needle park.

Abstract: A magazine for receiving C-shaped scalp clips having legs connected by a bridge and with facing clamping jaws at their free ends. In order to improve positioning of the scalp clips during displacement along the magazine, the scalp clips are arranged one behind the other in the magazine such that the free ends of one scalp clip rest against the bridge of the adjacent scalp clip, the scalp clips have laterally open recesses in their bridges or the regions where legs and bridge meet and the magazine has guide rails extending along its length and engaging in these recesses.

Abstract: Surgical clip applying apparatus for advancing and closing clips one at a time around body tissue. The apparatus includes a cartridge with a carrier member for an array of clips. When the cartridge is moved distally relative to the apparatus, two pivotally mounted cam followers on the carrier member move toward each other and traverse a pair of jaws on the apparatus. The pivoting of the cam followers causes the distal-most clip to be closed around body tissue. The cam followers and the cartridge then return to their original positions to ready the apparatus for another cycle of operation.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed, having upper and lower elongate jaws, one of which is adapted to receive a staple magazine, the other jaw being adapted to receive an anvil or to serve as one itself. A pusher bar and knife assembly including a pair of pusher bars and a central knife carrier moves along the jaws to eject staples from the magazine sequentially and to form laterally spaced staple rows in tissue gripped between the jaws while the knife cuts the tissue along a line between the staple rows. The instrument includes structure for locally supporting the jaws in the region of the forward ends of the pusher bars as these elements move along the jaws to resist forces which arise during staple ejection and shaping and which tend to vertically separate or laterally distort the jaws, or both. The magazine and the pusher bar and knife assembly may together constitute a unitary disposable cartridge. One jaw may have tabs or lugs for gripping the other jaw to provide additional lateral stability.

Abstract: A package for hydrolyzable ligating clips including means for holding a plurality of clips and means for removing moisture from around the clips with an outer wrap surrounding the holding means, clips, and moisture removing means.

Abstract: An improved package for sterile surgical instruments. The package includes means for holding the instrument. The package also includes means for maintaining the instrument in a position so that moveable parts do not take a permanent set. The package is constructed to provide for ready access to the instrument while maintaining the instrument in a sterile condition.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system comprising a surgical stapling instrument and a staple-carrying cartridge therefor. The surgical stapling instrument comprises a pliers-like instrument having upper and lower handles pivotally joined together. The upper handle has an elongated front portion terminating in an anvil. A staple former is slidably mounted on the front portion and is axially shiftable thereon by the lower handle between a normal or retracted position and a staple forming position. Cooperating leaf springs are mounted on each of the handles to normally urge the handles apart and the former to its retracted position. Portions of the leaf springs cooperate to lock the former in a staple gripping position. The cartridge comprises an elongaged member having a plurality of transverse slots formed in its upper surface and in parallel spaced relationship.

Abstract: A multi-staple cartridge for surgical staplers in which individual staples are retained and driven by separate but commonly actuated staple retaining units. Each of the units includes a movable staple carrier and a staple driving head. All units are actuated by a cartridge contained driving press so that the driving head and carrier are first moved together under a limited or yieldable force transmitting means tending to retain them in their initial relative position. The force transmitting means operative between the common driving press then advances the driving head relative to the carrier to set the staple. Final movement of the carrier and driving head is by direct abutting engagement with the driving press for all staples not previously clinched by the force of the yieldable force transmitting means. Tissue thickness variation is thus accommodated by each individual staple.

Abstract: A hemostatic clip applicator useful in the rapid and automatic application of hemostatic clips for the strangulation of tubular members is disclosed. The applicator consists of a main body, a clip magazine externally attached to the main body, clip deforming jaws attached to one end of the main body, clip feed means located within the main body and actuating means attached to the feed means and deforming jaws. In operation, one of many hemostatic clips stored in the clip magazine is fed into the main body and guided to the deforming jaws by the interaction of the actuating means and the feed means. When the clip is properly located about a tubular member, further actuation of the actuating means results in the deformation of the clip about the tubular member. Upon further activation of the actuating means, the sequential process of feeding a clip from the magazine and deforming the clip about other tubular members may be rapidly repeated until the supply of clips in the magazine is depleted.

Abstract: A package for a plurality of sterile, dry, hydrolyzable, surgical ligating clips. The package comprises a disposable means for holding the ligating clips in a spaced apart relationship. The clips are disposed in the holding means to provide an area around each clip for access thereto. The clips themselves have a pair of legs which are connected at their proximal ends by a narrowed resilient hinge portion. The hinge portion of the clip is more sensitive to hydrolysis than the remainder of the clip. The package also includes means, for example, pre dried paper for permanently removing moisture from the area around the clips. The disposable holding means, the clips, and the moisture removing means are wrapped by impermeable wrappers whereby the final package maintains the resiliency of the hinge portion of the clips over an extended shelf life period.

Abstract: A surgical clip applicator includes a forceps and a detachable cartridge containing a string of clips which are fed seriatim between the anvils of the forceps jaws.

Abstract: A medical stapling device in which open staples are moved along a track between two grooved rails by a drive member having spaced lugs. Upon activation of the device, the lugs are moved into engagement with the staples and advance them along the track so that the leading staple will be formed around an anvil at the end of the track and can suture living tissue adjacent the anvil. The portions of the staple that enter the tissue are smoothly curved so that they will enter like a surgeon's needle and provide a predetermined amount of gathering of the tissues, and the closed staple is shaped so that its maximum inner dimension is parallel to its central portion to restrict rotation of the staple due to tension across the suture.

Abstract: A surgical clip applicator includes a forceps and a detachable cartridge containing a string of clips which are fed seriatim between the anvils of the forceps jaws.

Abstract: Cartridge containing a plurality of non-metallic, bio-compatible hemostatic clips.

Abstract: A hemostatic clip cartridge is formed of a base and cover to contain a plurality of pre-formed U-shaped hemostatic clips in a column which is spring-biased to move along a track in the base and toward a delivery station which is shaped to make individual clips available to a hand held forceps type clip applier.

Abstract: A medical stapling device in which open staples are moved along a track between two grooved rails by a drive member having spaced lugs. Upon activation of the device, the lugs are moved into engagement with the staples and advance them along the track so that the leading staple will be formed around an anvil at the end of the track and can suture living tissue adjacent the anvil. The portions of the staple that enter the tissue are smoothly curved so that they will enter like a surgeon's needle and provide a predetermined amount of gathering of the tissues, and the closed staple is shaped so that its maximum inner dimension is parallel to its central portion to restrict rotation of the staple due to tension across the suture.

Abstract: A cartridge for holding a plurality of plastic, snap-closure hemostatic clips in a manner which allows each clip to be individually loaded into a forceps-type clip applier. The cartridge consists of an elongated body having a stepped central rail on which open clips are positioned with the head of the clip resting on the step on one side of the rail, and the tail of the clip projecting into a space on the opposite side of the rail. Means are provided for retaining the clips in position on the rail until loaded into the clip applier.

Abstract: A coherent surgical-staple stack comprising a plurality of staples, bonded together in a parallel contiguous relationship by a biodegradable, absorbable plastic.