Ligatures Patents (Class 206/63.3)
  • Patent number: 7694489
    Abstract: A suture winding device is provided that includes a holder and a base having a needle holder for receiving a needle with a quantity of attached suture attached thereto. A plurality of rods are disposed on the base that may be arranged in one or more arrays. The plurality of rods contribute to the alignment of a retainer disposed on the base that includes first and second members that may be joined together using pressure and/or heat. Prior to joining the first and second members of the retainer, the base may be rotated to form loops of suture around the arrays of rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Michael Prescott, Christopher G. Fishbein
  • Publication number: 20100078336
    Abstract: A method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture. The method includes the steps of providing a containment compartment molded from a polymeric resin comprising a polymeric material and an antimicrobial agent, positioning a suture within the containment compartment, the suture comprising one or more surfaces; covering the containment compartment having the suture in an outer package cover having an inner surface, and subjecting the outer package, the containment compartment and the suture to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the containment compartment to the suture, while retaining an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent on the containment compartment, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the suture and the containment compartment. A packaged antimicrobial suture is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: ETHICON, INC.
    Inventors: Mehmet REYHAN, Robert CERWIN
  • Patent number: 7681722
    Abstract: A needle holder that includes a fixed support member having an aperture therethrough, and a movable holding member mounted to the fixed member. The movable holding member contains a slot for receiving a needle and is movable between a first needle blank receiving position which enables receipt of said needle blank within said slot and a second needle blank holding position wherein the needle blank is held against the fixed support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Mark S. Buchter, Andrew J. Vacco
  • Publication number: 20100044251
    Abstract: A clip package comprises: a clip assembly including at least one endoscopic clip and at least one connection ring connected to the clip, the connection ring having at least one skirt portion that is allowed to expand radially outwards and stick out when in natural state free from external force and closes inwards when depressed radially inwards, a cylindrical case including an accommodation section for accommodating the clip assembly, the cylindrical case further including at least one opening in a position corresponding to the skirt portion of the connection ring, the opening being provided to maintain the skirt portion in natural state, and a cylindrical outer tube movably fitted over the outer periphery of the case and including at least one skirt closer for depressing and inwardly closing the skirt portion when the skirt closer is moved to a position opposite the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Koji Itoh, Takayuki Iida, Yoshiyuki Kunuki
  • Patent number: 7665279
    Abstract: A suture winding device is provided that includes a holder and a base having a needle holder for receiving a needle with a quantity of attached suture attached thereto. A plurality of rods is disposed on the base that may be arranged in one or more arrays. The plurality of rods at contribute to the alignment of a retainer disposed on the base that includes first and second members that may be joined together using pressure and/or heat. Prior to joining the first and second members of the retainer, the base may be rotated to form loops of suture around the arrays of rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Michael Prescott
  • Publication number: 20100025274
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a package for a medical device containing a cavity for receiving the medical device, a first closure having a sealed portal therein and a second closure adjacent the first closure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Joshua B. Stopek, David Kirsch
  • Patent number: 7637369
    Abstract: A package for surgical suture material includes a base member and a cover member, wherein the cover member is configured to be placed adjacent to the base member to form the package for the surgical suture material. The base member includes an outer wall extending from an outer circumference thereof. The outer wall has a predetermined height such that it engages the cover member when the cover member is placed adjacent the base member. Partition structure extends from a bottom surface of the cover member and defines at least one suture retaining area. A plurality of protrusions are positioned adjacent the outer wall for maintaining surgical suture material a predetermined distance toward a center portion of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: John Kennedy, David Kirsch, Michael R. Prescott
  • Publication number: 20090318962
    Abstract: Materials and Methods for immobilizing bioactive molecules, stem and other precursor cells, and other agents of therapeutic value in surgical sutures and other tissue scaffold devices are described herein. Broadly drawn to the integration and incorporation of bioactive materials into suture constructs, tissue scaffolds and medical devices, the present invention has particular utility in the development of novel systems that enable medical personnel performing surgical and other medical procedures to utilize and subsequently reintroduce bioactive materials extracted from a patient (or their allogenic equivalents) to a wound or target surgical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: BIOACTIVE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Richard H. SPEDDEN, Laura J. PINGEL, Lew C. SCHON
  • Patent number: 7611008
    Abstract: A package is used for the packaging of an anchor element together with a suture thread which is threaded on the latter. It is proposed to provide the package with an outer casing hermetically closed to the outside, the casing container holder which receives said anchor element and which has a seat for the suture thread already wound on the anchor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kurt Ruffieux, Heiner Kern, Dennis Reichardt, Alexander Siegrist
  • Patent number: 7600634
    Abstract: A surgical suture package for storing at least one surgical suture includes an outer jacket having a plurality of panels foldably connected to each other and adapted to fold upon each other to form an inner pocket and an inner retainer for positioning within the pocket of the outer jacket. The inner retainer includes a row of support panels having a main support panel for supporting the at least one suture, and a pair of side support panels foldably connected to the main support panel along respective opposed major sides of the main support panel. The side support panels are adapted to be folded onto the main support panel to at least partially enclose the at least one suture. A cover panel is foldably connected to the main support panel along a minor side of the main support panel, and is adapted to be folded onto the support panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Stan Malinowski, Mario Santangelo
  • Publication number: 20090250356
    Abstract: The preset disclosure describes packaging for sutures having barbs. The packaging includes a base, a cover configured to be placed adjacent to the base to form the suture package and a plurality of protrusions which are configured for selectively maintaining and slideably releasing surgical barbed sutures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: David Kirsch, Michael Prescott
  • Publication number: 20090230002
    Abstract: A suture pledget assembly is disclosed that includes a block with at least one slit and a pledget in an abutting relationship to the block. A suture has first and second end portions that are retained by the first and second slits, respectively. The first and second end portions generally extend beyond a face of the block and are substantially parallel to each other. A suture pledget package for retaining a suture is disclosed. The suture pledget package includes a front panel and a backing panel where the backing panel forms a plurality of tracks. Each track is configured and dimensioned to receive at least one suture pledget assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Roby, John Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20090209031
    Abstract: A package for a medical device, the package capable of sustaining viable cells, wherein the package includes a first container, which is configured to receive a medical device and to sustain at least one viable cell, and a fluid port in communication with the first container for allowing sterile passage of an agent to the medical device and for maintaining cell viability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Joshua B. Stopek
  • Publication number: 20090205987
    Abstract: A package for surgical suture material includes a base member and a cover member, wherein the cover member is configured to be placed adjacent to the base member to form the package for the surgical suture material. The base member includes an outer wall extending from an outer circumference thereof. The outer wall has a predetermined height such that it engages the cover member when the cover member is placed adjacent the base member. Partition structure extends from a bottom surface of the cover member and defines at least one suture retaining area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Jack Kennedy, David Kirsch, Michael Prescott
  • Publication number: 20090149869
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and improved system and method for providing sutures using self adhesive pads with anchors. Each self adhesive pad has at least one anchor or hook fixed on top of the pad to hold a suture thread in place or could contain a Micro Velcro System. By applying the pads around an open wound and connecting them with a suture thread, the wound could be closed by tightening the suture thread. The wound could be kept closed by securing the position of both ends of the suture thread. In one embodiment, the end of a suture thread may be anchored on the anchor or hook on the self adhesive pad. The system and method provides improvements over the suture techniques using stitches by securing atraumatic closure of the wound in a non-invasive way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Eduardo Pena Dolhun
  • Patent number: 7520382
    Abstract: A package for surgical suture material includes a base member and a cover member, wherein the cover member is configured to be placed adjacent to the base member to form the package for the surgical suture material. The base member includes an outer wall extending from an outer circumference thereof. The outer wall has a predetermined height such that it engages the cover member when the cover member is placed adjacent the base member. Partition structure extends from a bottom surface of the cover member and defines at least one suture retaining area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Jack Kennedy, David Kirsch, Michael Prescott
  • Patent number: 7520383
    Abstract: A suture pledget assembly is disclosed that includes a block with at least one slit and a pledget in an abutting relationship to the block. A suture has first and second end portions that are retained by the first and second slits, respectively. The first and second end portions generally extend beyond a face of the block and are substantially parallel to each other. A suture pledget package for retaining a suture is disclosed. The suture pledget package includes a front panel and a backing panel where the backing panel forms a plurality of tracks. Each track is configured and dimensioned to receive at least one suture pledget assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Mark Roby, John Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7467710
    Abstract: A package assembly and method for packaging sutures is provided. The package includes a substantially rectangular casing defining an internal area therein and including a container portion having a substantially flat bottom side defined by first, second, third and fourth edges, and first, second, third and fourth sides extending upwardly from the first, second, third and fourth edges respectively, and a lid portion removably secured to a top side of the container portion to thereby form an integral casing. The package further includes a plurality of suture packages each having a substantially planar shape, wherein the plurality of packages are positioned within the internal area of the rectangular casing substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the bottom side of the container portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Cerwin, Clifford Dey, Glynn Clements
  • Publication number: 20080272012
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a packaged medical device including a container for receiving a medical device having a passageway defined therein and a port for permitting the sterile passage of an agent between the outside of the container and the passageway defined within the medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Joshua Stopek
  • Publication number: 20080128296
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a package for a medical device having a surface prepared for receiving a target agent and a port for permitting the passage of the target agent between the surface of the medical device contained therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Joshua Stopek, Joseph Hotter, Matthew D. Cohen
  • Patent number: 7322161
    Abstract: A suture winding device having a rotatable base and a holder is provided. The rotatable base includes a needle holder for receiving a needle having a quantity of attached suture. A plurality of rods is disposed on the base for aligning a retainer thereon. Rods may be arranged in one or more arrays on the rotatable base. The base may be rotated to form loops of suture around the arrays of rods. The retainer includes first and second members that may be joined together using pressure and/or heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Michael Prescott
  • Patent number: 7191900
    Abstract: The invention is a medical guide wire containment and dispensing device. The device is of unitary construction and defines a single, generally annular opening that receives the guide wire. Preferably, the device includes a mount for retaining a guide-wire torque device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: JS Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Opie, Stephen J. Joyce, Thomas Izdebski
  • Patent number: 7137507
    Abstract: A suture pledget assembly is disclosed that includes a block with at least one slit and a pledget in an abutting relationship to the block. A suture has first and second end portions that are retained by the first and second slits, respectively. The first and second end portions generally extend beyond a face of the block and are substantially parallel to each other. A suture pledget package for retaining a suture is disclosed. The suture pledget package includes a front panel and a backing panel where the backing panel forms a plurality of tracks. Each track is configured and dimensioned to receive at least one suture pledget assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Mark Roby, John Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7070044
    Abstract: A dispenser for suture, including a suture reel on which the suture is mounted and an indicator that the suture is soon to be depleted. The indicator can be a visual marking on the suture, or it can be an audible and/or vibratory effect obtained by the dispenser housing interacting with the suture through one or more view ports or by interaction of a follower cam with the reel structure as the suture becomes depleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: David Rosenfeld
  • Patent number: 7070051
    Abstract: A needle counter device which utilizes an adhesive disposed in one or more, preferably V-shaped, troughs. The adhesive provides instant, strong grip upon contact, but also provides very low resistance to needle penetration (i.e., it is easy to stick a needle in the adhesive, but difficult to pull the needle out). The device includes a base and a lid, and opens and closes much like a book. Once the device is closed, the device tends to remain closed unless intentionally opened. A thin layer of adhesive may be provided on the inside of the lid, to retain used surgical blades, and a piece of resilient foam may also be provided for temporarily “parking” a suture needle. The sides of each trough are lined with structure which serves to prevent an accidentally laid surgical instrument from unintentionally contacting the adhesive. Numerical indices provide a quick visual, counting assist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Atrion Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rowland W. Kanner, Larry Lee Young
  • Patent number: 7007442
    Abstract: A thin, flat package of heat sealed thermoplastic material is filled with plastic string trimmer line, with one end of the line accessible through an opening in the rear wall, and the other end of the line extending from a slot in the periphery of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventor: John R. Fogle
  • Patent number: 6938755
    Abstract: Featured is a package or carrier for releasably holding any of a number of medical devices including a rigid member that is interconnected to a flexible member such as suture-needle combinations. The package includes a support unit having a long axis, which support unit is configured so as to include a handle/cover member, a face cover member, a stationary panel, a plurality of folding panels, and a plurality (i.e., two or more) of securing members that releasably secure or retain portions of the medical device and/or portions of the interconnected flexible member to the package. The handle/cover member is foldable in either of two positions. In the first position a part of the handle/cover member covers a portion of the stationary panel that is not covered by the face cover member. In the second position, this portion of the stationary panel becomes uncovered to expose the medical devices that are secured therein and.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Braginsky, Joan Goldberg, Shelby Cook, Donna Raiche, Michael A. Valerio
  • Patent number: 6854598
    Abstract: A container for holding curved needles has side fixation hooks in pairs and a center fixation hook projected from a bottom plate to fix a needle by putting the needle between the hooks and in which the tip of the needle falls down securely to a fixed direction. In case of holding plural needles, plural side fixation hooks and center fixation hooks are molded to project continuously in a line from the bottom plate and so the backs of the hooks are united with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Koseki Medical K.K.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Koseki
  • Patent number: 6804937
    Abstract: A machine and process for packaging armed sutures into tray packages. The machine has a frame with a rotatable indexing disc member mounted to the top of the frame. A plurality of tool nests are rotatably mounted to the top of the indexing disc. Tray packages mounted in the toll nests are rotated to wind sutures into a suture channel in the packages. A stylus having a front nose member and a rear heel member guides suture into the suture channel. Channel winding pins in the winding tooling provide for an arranged wind of suture in a suture channel of the tray packages. The machine has an in-line printer and a punching machine for printing and punching paper covers from strips of stock material, which are then mounted to the tray packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford A. Dey, Robert J. Cerwin, Thomas J. Zingale, Konstantin Ivanov, Delfin A. Lorenzo Iglesias, Manfred Hild, Manfred Reiser, Bernard Wachter
  • Publication number: 20040159561
    Abstract: A storage device for medical swabs having an envelope for the latter is characterized in that the envelope is formed by adjacently disposed chambers which are sealed bacteria-tight for the swabs. The size of the chambers is determined by the number and the size of the swabs kept in stock in each of them, it being intended, so ensure absolute sterility, that only one swab should be kept in stock in one chamber, so that each swab can be removed sterilized from the storage device. The envelopes can be kept in stock rolled up or concertinaed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Andreas Fellinger
  • Patent number: 6739450
    Abstract: A suture package for multiple double armed sutures has a base panel with a multi-compartment pocket disposed at a bottom portion thereof. A needle park adhered to the base panel holds a first group of needle pairs with the associated sutures extending down into compartments of the pocket. A divider panel divides the pocket structure in half and supports a second needle park for holding a second plurality of needle pairs. The needle parks have a serrated top edge and angled slits that hold the needles such that they have a reduced lateral profile to allow the package to have a manipulable width while holding multiple sutures. Pledgets on the sutures park besides the needles in valleys of the serrated edge. In order to prevent the second panel from compressing the sutures when the package is folded, the fold lines of the base panel and the second panel are offset and the top portion of the second panel is slidably attached to the base panel by tabs and slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Constance E. Roshdy, Elizabeth Porras
  • Publication number: 20040084331
    Abstract: A suture pledget assembly is disclosed that includes a block with at least one slit and a pledget in an abutting relationship to the block. A suture has first and second end portions that are retained by the first and second slits, respectively. The first and second end portions generally extend beyond a face of the block and are substantially parallel to each other. A suture pledget package for retaining a suture is disclosed. The suture pledget package includes a front panel and a backing panel where the backing panel forms a plurality of tracks. Each track is configured and dimensioned to receive at least one suture pledget assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Roby, John Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6719128
    Abstract: A suture package is disclosed that is sized and shaped to contain at least one suture. The suture package includes an envelope having a plurality of panels. One of the panels is a pressure panel which functions to urge a suture against another of the panels, thereby immobilizing the suture within the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin Alpern, Delfin A. Lorenzo Iglesias
  • Publication number: 20040050721
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to packages for retaining a needle-suture combination. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the package includes a moldable base portion; a moldable cover portion fabricated from moldable material, the cover portion being integrally connected to the base portion via a hinge, wherein at least one of the base portion and the cover portion is configured and adapted to retain a suture of a needle-suture combination; and a needle park disposed on at least one of the base portion and the cover portion, the needle park being configured and adapted to retain a needle of the needle-suture combination therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Roby, John Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20040020795
    Abstract: Featured is a package or carrier for releasably holding any of a number of medical devices including a rigid member that is interconnected to a flexible member such as suture-needle combinations. The package includes a support unit having a long axis, which support unit is configured so as to include a handle/cover member, a face cover member, a stationary panel, a plurality of folding panels, and a plurality (i.e., two or more) of securing members that releasably secure or retain portions of the medical device and/or portions of the interconnected flexible member to the package. The handle/cover member is foldable in either of two positions. In the first position a part of the handle/cover member covers a portion of the stationary panel that is not covered by the face cover member. In the second position, this portion of the stationary panel becomes uncovered to expose the medical devices that are secured therein and.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Braginsky, Joan Goldberg, Shelby Cook, Donna Raiche, Michael A. Valerio
  • Patent number: 6659270
    Abstract: A suture package (30) including a panel having a series of superimposed subpanels (32a). A suture (20) loops back and forth on the subpanels (32a) such that adjacent loops are retained on adjacent subpanels (32a) and the adjacent subpanels separate the adjacent loops from one another. In the preferred embodiment, an accordion style panel (32) is utilized and the series of subpanels (32a) are folded into a superimposed relationship. Various features are incorporated to reduce the instances or likelihood of kinking and tangling of the suture (20) when pulled from the package (30) by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: IDX Medical, Ltd.
    Inventors: Warren P. Williamson, IV, Craig B. Berky, Paul A. Spence, Mark Ortiz
  • Patent number: 6644469
    Abstract: A tray package is provided for sutures and needles. The tray package includes a base member which has top and bottom surfaces. A needle park bridge is formed on the top surface and is sized and shaped to receive a needle of a suture. A suture channel is formed on the bottom surface and is sized and shaped to receive a suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Marvin Alpern
  • Publication number: 20030178325
    Abstract: A suture package for multiple double armed sutures has a base panel with a multi-compartment pocket disposed at a bottom portion thereof. A needle park adhered to the base panel holds a first group of needle pairs with the associated sutures extending down into compartments of the pocket. A divider panel divides the pocket structure in half and supports a second needle park for holding a second plurality of needle pairs. The needle parks have a serrated top edge and angled slits that hold the needles such that they have a reduced lateral profile to allow the package to have a manipulable width while holding multiple sutures. Pledgets on the sutures park besides the needles in valleys of the serrated edge. In order to prevent the second panel from compressing the sutures when the package is folded, the fold lines of the base panel and the second panel are offset and the top portion of the second panel is slidably attached to the base panel by tabs and slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Constance E. Roshdy, Elizabeth Porras
  • Publication number: 20030155259
    Abstract: A surgical suture needle counter with the structure of having a needle fixing body made of thin plate formed of continuous projections and hollow parts in a waveform, wherein needles are inserted into the aperture of the projections and dropped into the hollow part to be fixed and held. Side rods protrude in both sides of the base of the hollow parts of the needle fixing body to clarify the precise position for the needle to be dropped when seen from above. The curved form of the hollow part of the needle fixing body is made to match the cross-section form of the needle to enable the inserted needle to fall into the aperture and fit closely onto the tray base. When the lid is open wide and turned to the base of the tray, the inside of the tray is inclined to facilitate easier visual confirmation of the fixed needles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Tomoaki Koseki
  • Patent number: 6607696
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus for delivery of a gas, e.g., carbon dioxide and/or chlorine dioxide, and methods of its use and manufacture. The apparatus includes an envelope, and a sachet within the envelope that contains reactant, which generates a gas in the presence of an initiating agent, e.g., water. The envelope allows release of the gas from the envelope. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an envelope and a partition that separates two reactants within the envelope. The envelope allows an initiating agent into the envelope and release of the gas generated by the reactants in the presence of the initiating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Selective Micro Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Hamilton, John J. Warner
  • Patent number: 6598737
    Abstract: A suture dispenser box is provided that has an angled design such that the suture dispenser box may be received in at least two differently formatted storage racks. The suture dispenser box has a plurality of panels including at least two panels that have approximately a parallelogram shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Rudnick
  • Patent number: 6533112
    Abstract: In a packaging (1) for surgical suture material, a thread duct (10) which runs in a wound manner is formed in a base (2), which thread duct opens at its first end (11) to a thread removal zone (3). The base (2) is provided with a cover. The thread removal zone (3) has a recess (24) in the base (2) adjacent to the first end (11) of the thread duct (10), adjacent to which recess a thread tray (26), which faces the first end (11) of the thread duct (10), is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ethicon, GmbH
    Inventor: Henning Warnecke
  • Patent number: 6530479
    Abstract: A housing for suturing tools including a cylindrical housing having an upper end, a lower end, a cylindrical side wall therebetween, and a hollow interior. The cylindrical housing has a central dividing wall disposed within the hollow interior extending between the upper and lower ends. The central dividing wall equally divides the cylindrical housing into a first section and a second section. The cylindrical side wall of the first section has an opening therethrough positioned intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. The cylindrical side wall of the second section has at least one opening therethrough adjacent to the lower end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Alejandro Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20030029737
    Abstract: A suture package is disclosed that is sized and shaped to contain at least one suture. The suture package includes an envelope having a plurality of panels. One of the panels is a pressure panel which functions to urge a suture against another of the panels, thereby immobilizing the suture within the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin Alpern, Delfin A. Lorenzo Iglesias
  • Publication number: 20030010659
    Abstract: A housing for suturing tools including a cylindrical housing having an upper end, a lower end, a cylindrical side wall therebetween, and a hollow interior. The cylindrical housing has a central dividing wall disposed within the hollow interior extending between the upper and lower ends. The central dividing wall equally divides the cylindrical housing into a first section and a second section. The cylindrical side wall of the first section has an opening therethrough positioned intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. The cylindrical side wall of the second section has at least one opening therethrough adjacent to the lower end thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Alejandro Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20030010655
    Abstract: A tray package is provided for sutures and needles. The tray package includes a base member which has top and bottom surfaces. A needle park bridge is formed on the top surface and is sized and shaped to receive a needle of a suture. A suture channel is formed on the bottom surface and is sized and shaped to receive a suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Marvin Alpern
  • Publication number: 20030006149
    Abstract: A suture dispenser box is provided that has an angled design such that the suture dispenser box may be received in at least two differently formatted storage racks. The suture dispenser box has a plurality of panels including at least two panels that have approximately a parallelogram shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Rudnick
  • Publication number: 20020175091
    Abstract: A suture package (30) including a panel having a series of superimposed subpanels (32a). A suture (20) loops back and forth on the subpanels (32a) such that adjacent loops are retained on adjacent subpanels (32a) and the adjacent subpanels separate the adjacent loops from one another. In the preferred embodiment, an accordion style panel (32) is utilized and the series of subpanels (32a) are folded into a superimposed relationship. Various features are incorporated to reduce the instances or likelihood of kinking and tangling of the suture (20) when pulled from the package (30) by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: IDX Medical, Ltd.
    Inventors: Warren P. Williamson, Craig B. Berky, Paul A. Spence, Mark Ortiz
  • Patent number: 6481569
    Abstract: A needle park and method of use of same, wherein a two-point contact, cantilevered member and opposite post member are provided to hold a needle between them, the post member being slit partially, such as perpendicular to or parallel to, the base on which the park sits. Such a slit allows the post member to partially collapse when a needle is inserted, allowing a greater variety of needle diameters to be used. Any curved needle is inserted in the separation between the members so that the needle curves around the post member and away from the two-point contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Marvin Alpern
  • Patent number: 6467612
    Abstract: A dispenser for suture, including a suture reel on which the suture is mounted and an indicator that the suture is soon to be depleted. The indicator can be a visual marking on the suture, or it can be an audible and/or vibratory effect obtained by the dispenser housing interacting with the suture through one or more view ports or by interaction of a follower cam with the reel structure as the suture becomes depleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: David Rosenfeld