Package for double-armed sutures
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsHarvey B. Mandel, Eberhard H. Thyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A package for double-armed sutures, particularly ophthalmic sutures, comprising a one-piece folded packet having needle mounting means and suture loop retaining means which are readily accessible when the package is opened. The needle mounting means is preferably removable to allow the suture to be withdrawn from the package with the needles secured therein. The suture loop retaining means is optionally incorporated with the needle mounting means and removable therewith. The package contains a single, double-armed suture with both needles secured in the needle mounting means and with a loop substantially equidistant from each needle retained in the suture loop retaining means so that the suture may be cut at the loop to obtain two single-armed sutures of substantially equal length.
Claims21
A folded package for a double-armed suture comprising
- (a) a center panel, a first and second cover panel foldably attached to said center panel along two sides thereof, and a needle mounting panel foldably attached to said center panel along a third side thereof,
- (b) needle mounting means on said needle mounting panel,
- (c) suture loop retaining means on one of said panels, and
- (d) a double-armed suture contained in said package having both needles secured in said needle mounting means and a suture loop substantially equidistant from each needle secured in said suture loop retaining means,
- said first cover panel of said package being folded over said center panel with a major portion of said suture enclosed therebetween,
- said needle mounting panel being folded over said first cover panel with said needles and needle mounting means enclosed therebetween, and
- said second cover panel being folded over said needle mounting panel and first cover panel with said suture loop retaining means enclosed therebetween,
- whereby when the second cover panel and needle mounting panel are unfolded from said center panel, said needles and said suture loop are readily accessible and said suture may be cut at said loop to obtain two single-armed sutures of substantially equal length before removing said suture from between said folded panels.
A folded package for a double-armed suture comprising
- (a) an elongated center panel having a major and minor axis, a first and a second cover panel foldably attached to said center panel along the major sides thereof, an a needle mounting panel foldably attached to said center panel along one minor side thereof,
- (b) needle mounting means comprising a three-dimensional, self-sustaining, resilient, pierceable body mounted on said needle mounting panel,
- (c) suture loop retaining means comprising a three-dimensional, self-sustaining, resilient body having a suture loop accepting slit therein mounted on one of said panels, and
- (d) a double-armed suture contained in said package having both needles secured in said needle mounting means and a suture loop substantially equidistant from each needle secured in said suture loop retaining means,
- said first cover panel of said package being folded over said center panel with a major portion of said suture enclosed therebetween,
- said needle mounting panel being folded over said first cover panel with said needles and needle mounting means enclosed therebetween, and
- said second cover panel being folded over said needle mounting panel and first cover panel with said suture loop retaining means enclosed therebetween,
- whereby when the second cover panel and needle mounting panel are unfolded from said center panel, said needles and said suture loop are readily accessible and said suture may be cut at said loop to obtain two single-armed sutures of substantially equal length before removing said needles from said needle mount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.