# US 5,350,060 A · Procedure kit and package

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- Number: US 5,350,060 A
- Document ID: US5350060A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/006,005
- Filed: 1993-01-15
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1993-01-15
- Assignees: Ethicon, Inc.
- Inventors: Marvin Alpern; Robert Cerwin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350060A

## CPC

- A61B 17/06133: {of parallelepipedal shape, e.g. made of rectangular or slightly oval panels}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A package for a procedure kit that defines a suture winding channel and a surgical needle and suture procedure kit. The package may contain a variety of sizes and types and lengths of sutures and needles including at least one double-armed suture. The package has a base having a central area. An inner wall extends up from the base about the periphery of the central area. An outer wall also extends from the base. The outer wall and the inner wall form the channel. At least one spacer or separator member is located in the channel for separating the channel into at least two coplanar sections. A needle park means extends from the central area for receiving and holding surgical needles. The package and kit may be overwrapped with foil or paper and inserted into a conventional thermal plastic blister pack.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A package for a surgical suture and needle procedure kit that defines a suture winding channel, comprising:
a base having a central area, the central area having an outer periphery;
an inner wall extending up from the base about the central area wherein the inner wall comprises a pair of substantially opposed inner longitudinal walls extending from the base and, a pair of substantially opposed inner latitudinal walls extending from said base, said latitudinal walls being connected to said longitudinal walls wherein the inner longitudinal walls and the inner latitudinal walls are connected by curved intermediate walls sections;
an outer wall extending up from the base, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall form a suture winding channel;
at least one spacer means located in the channel for separating the channel into at least two coplanar sections;
a plurality of door means hingingly attached to the suture winding channel, the door means being closable to enclose a suture within the suture winding channel; and,
means for locking said door means in their closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1 wherein said package further comprises a point of access to the central area from said suture winding channel and wherein said point of access allows passage of a suture from said central area into said channel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The package of claim 2, wherein said point of access comprises an opening in the inner wall of said suture winding channel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1, further comprising at least one means for parking at least one needle located in said central area.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The suture package of claim 4 comprising more than one means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The package of claim 5 comprising at least one longitudinal wall extending from the base between adjacent means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The package of claim 6 comprising two means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The package of claim 4 wherein the means for parking at least needle comprises a plurality of hinged members extending from the base, said hinged members located along a longitudinal line.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1, comprising a point of access located in the vicinity of the connection of a longitudinal section to a latitudinal section.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1, wherein said suture winding channel comprises an open side, and said door means are hingingly attached at said open side of said channel for closure over said open side of said channel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The package of claim 10, wherein said channel further comprises standoff means projecting from an inner wall of said channel for bridging sections of said inner wall.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1, wherein said locking means comprise a latch mechanism located on said door means and said channel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The package of claim 12 wherein said latch mechanism further comprises an aperture located in said door means and an interlocking post located on said channel.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The package of claim 13, wherein said door means further comprises fin means projecting from said door means for preventing binding of a suture within said latch mechanism.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1, wherein said suture winding channel is located about the periphery of the central area.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1, wherein said suture winding channel in at least one cross-section comprises a substantially planar inner wall, a planar top wall formed by said door means, a substantially planar outer wall and a substantially planar bottom wall connecting said inner and outer walls, when said door means are closed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The suture package of claim 1 further comprising a cover sleeve enclosing said package.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1 further comprising means for labeling located on the central area for identifying each needle and suture.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1 wherein each spacer means comprises planar member inserted into the channel, said member having a central hole therethrough such that the member fits in the winding channel.

### Claim 20

A package for a surgical suture and needle procedure kit that defines a suture winding channel, comprising:
a base having a central area, the central area having an outer periphery;
an inner wall extending up from the base about the central area said inner wall comprising a pair of substantially opposed inner longitudinal walls extending from the base and a pair of substantially opposed inner latitudinal walls extending from said base, said latitudinal walls being connected to said longitudinal walls;
an outer wall extending up from the base, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall form a suture winding channel wherein the inner longitudinal walls and the inner latitudinal walls are connected by curved intermediate walls sections;
a plurality of door means hingingly attached to the suture winding channel, the door means being closable to enclose a suture within the suture winding channel and means for locking said door means in their closed position;
at least one spacer means located in the channel for separating the channel into at least two coplanar sections; and,
at least one needle park means located in said central area.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20, wherein said package further comprises a point of access to the central area from said suture winding channel and wherein said point of access allows passage of a suture from said central area into said channel.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The package of claim 21, wherein said point of access comprises an opening in the inner wall of said suture winding channel.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20, comprising a point of access located in the vicinity of the connection of a longitudinal section to a latitudinal section.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20, wherein winding area of said package, said suture winding channel comprises an open side, and said door means are hingingly attached at said open side of said channel for closure over said open side of said channel.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The package of claim 24, wherein said channel further comprises standoff means projecting from an inner wall of said channel for bridging sections of said inner wall.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The package of claims 24, wherein said locking means comprises a latch mechanism located on said door means and said channel.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The package of claim 26 wherein said latch mechanism comprises an aperture located in said door means and in interlocking post located on said channel.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The package of claim 27, wherein said door means further comprise fin means projecting from said door means for preventing binding of a suture within said latch mechanism.

### Claim 29 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20, wherein said suture winding channel is located about the periphery of said package and includes an inner wall projecting from the floor of said package.

### Claim 30 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20, wherein said suture winding channel in at least one cross-section comprises a substantially planar inner wall, a planar top wall formed by said door means, a substantially planar outer wall and a substantially planar bottom wall connecting said inner and outer walls, when said door means are closed.

### Claim 31 (depends on 20)

The suture package of claim 20 further comprising a cover sleeve enclosing said package.

### Claim 32 (depends on 20)

The suture package of claim 20 comprising more than means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The package of claim 32 comprising at least one longitudinal wall extending from the base between adjacent means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The package of claim 33 comprising two means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 35 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20 wherein the means for parking at least one needle comprises a plurality of hinged members extending from the base located along a longitudinal line.

### Claim 36 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20 further comprising means for labeling located on the central area for identifying each needle and suture.

### Claim 37 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20 wherein the spacer means comprises at least one planar member inserted into the channel, the member having a central hole therethrough such that the member fits in the winding channel.

### Claim 38 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20 further comprising a foil overwrap in which the package is sealed.

### Claim 39 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20 further comprising a paper sleeve in which the package is contained.

### Claim 40 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20 further comprising an outer blister package in which the package is sealed.

### Claim 41 (depends on 20)

The package of claim 20 additionally comprising at least two surgical sutures and at least two surgical needles, wherein at least one suture is a double-armed suture.

### Claim 42

A surgical suture and needle procedure kit, comprising:
I) a package for surgical needles and sutures that defines a suture winding channel, said package comprising:
a base having a central area, the central area having an outer periphery;
an inner wall extending up from the base about the central area;
an outer wall extending up from the base, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall form a suture winding channel; and,
at least one spacer means located in the channel for separating the channel into at least two coplanar sections; and
II) at least two surgical needles and at least two surgical sutures, the needles placed in the central area and the sutures wound in the suture winding channel, wherein at least one of the sutures in a double-armed suture.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The package of claim 42 wherein the inner wall comprises:
a pair of substantially opposed inner longitudinal walls extending from the base; and,
a pair of substantially opposed inner latitudinal walls extending from said base, said latitudinal walls being connected to said longitudinal walls.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The kit of claim 43 wherein the inner longitudinal walls and the inner latitudinal walls are connected by curved intermediate walls sections.

### Claim 45 (depends on 43)

The package of claim 43 comprising a point of access is located in the vicinity of the connection of a longitudinal section to a latitudinal section.

### Claim 46 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 further comprising a plurality of door means hingingly attached to the suture winding channel, the door means being closable to enclose a suture within the suture winding channel.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The kit of claim 46 further comprising means for locking said door means in their closed position.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The kit of claim 47, wherein said locking means comprises a latch mechanism located on said door means and said channel.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The kit of claim 48 wherein said latch mechanism further comprises includes an aperture located in said door means and an interlocking post located on said channel.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The kit of claim 49, wherein said door means further comprises fin means projecting from said door means for preventing binding of a suture within said latch mechanism.

### Claim 51 (depends on 46)

The kit of claim 46, wherein said suture winding channel has an open side, and said door means are hingingly attached at said open side of said channel for closure over said open side of said channel.

### Claim 52 (depends on 51)

The kit of claim 51, wherein said channel further includes standoff means projecting from an inner wall of said channel for bridging sections of said inner wall.

### Claim 53 (depends on 46)

The kit of claim 46, wherein said suture winding channel in at least one cross-section comprises a substantially planar inner wall, a planar top wall formed by said door means, a substantially planar outer wall and a substantially planar bottom wall connecting said inner and outer walls, when said door means are closed.

### Claim 54 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42, wherein said package further comprises a point of access to the central area from said suture winding channel and wherein said point of access allows passage of a suture from said central area into said channel.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The kit of claim 54, wherein said point of access comprises an opening in an inner wall of said suture winding channel.

### Claim 56 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42, further comprising at least one means for parking at least one needle located in said central area.

### Claim 57 (depends on 56)

The kit of claim 56 comprising more than one means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 58 (depends on 57)

The kit of claim 57 comprising at least one longitudinal wall extending from the base between adjacent means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 59 (depends on 58)

The kit of claim 58 comprising two means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 60 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42, wherein said suture winding channel is located about the periphery of the central area.

### Claim 61 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 further comprising a cover sleeve enclosing said package.

### Claim 62 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 wherein the means for parking at least one needle comprises a plurality of hinged members extending from the base, said hinged members located along a longitudinal line.

### Claim 63 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 further comprising means for labeling located on the central area for identifying each needle and suture.

### Claim 64 (depends on 42)

The package of claim 42 wherein the spacer means comprises at least one planar member inserted into the channel, the member having a central hole therethrough such that the member fits in the winding channel.

### Claim 65 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 further comprising a foil overwrap in which the kit is sealed.

### Claim 66 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 further comprising a paper sleeve in which the kit is enclosed.

### Claim 67 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 further comprising a paper cover for covering the kit.

### Claim 68 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 further comprising an outer blister package in which the kit is sealed.

### Claim 69 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 comprising at least one additional package for the surgical sutures and needles.

### Claim 70 (depends on 69)

The kit of claim 69 further comprising an outer plastic blister package in which the kit is sealed.

### Claim 71 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 wherein the sutures comprise absorbable sutures.

### Claim 72 (depends on 42)

The kit of claim 42 wherein the sutures comprise nonabsorbable sutures.

### Claim 73

A surgical suture and needle procedure kit, comprising:
I) a package for surgical needles and sutures that defines a suture winding channel, said package comprising:
a base having a central area, the central area having an outer periphery;
an inner wall extending up from the base about central area;
an outer wall extending up from the base, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall form a suture winding channel;
at least one spacer means located in the channel for separating the channel into at least two coplanar sections; and,
at least one means for parking at least one needle located in said central area; and,
II) at least two surgical needles and at least two surgical sutures, the needles engaged by the needle park means and the sutures wound in the suture winding channel, wherein at least one of the sutures is a double-armed suture.

### Claim 74 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 wherein the inner wall comprises
a pair of substantially opposed inner longitudinal walls extending from the base; and,
a pair of substantially opposed inner latitudinal walls extending from said base, said latitudinal walls being connected to said longitudinal walls.

### Claim 75 (depends on 74)

The kit of claim 74 wherein the inner longitudinal walls and the inner latitudinal walls are connected by curved intermediate walls sections.

### Claim 76 (depends on 74)

The kit of claim 74 comprising a point of access is located in the vicinity of the connection of a longitudinal section to a latitudinal section.

### Claim 77 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 further comprising a plurality of door means hingingly attached to the suture winding channel, the door means being closable to enclose a suture within the suture winding channel.

### Claim 78 (depends on 77)

The kit of claim 77 further comprising means for locking said door means in their closed position.

### Claim 79 (depends on 78)

The kit of claim 78, wherein said locking means comprises a latch mechanism located on said door means and said channel.

### Claim 80 (depends on 79)

The kit of claim 79 wherein said latch mechanism further comprises an aperture located in said door means and in interlocking post located on said channel.

### Claim 81 (depends on 80)

The kit of claim 80, wherein said door means further includes fin means projecting from said door means for preventing binding of a suture within said latch mechanism.

### Claim 82 (depends on 77)

The kit of claim 77, wherein said suture winding channel is located about the periphery of a central area of said package, said suture winding channel has an open side, and said door means are hingingly attached at said open side of said channel for closure over said open side of said channel.

### Claim 83 (depends on 82)

The kit of claim 82, wherein said channel further includes standoff means projecting from an inner wall of said channel for bridging sections of said inner wall.

### Claim 84 (depends on 77)

The kit of claim 77, wherein said suture winding channel in at least one cross-section comprises a substantially planar inner wall, a planar top wall formed by said door means, a substantially planar outer wall and a substantially planar bottom wall connecting said inner and outer walls, when said door means are closed.

### Claim 85 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73, wherein said package further comprises a point of access to the central area from said suture winding channel and wherein said point of access allows passage of a suture from said central area into said channel.

### Claim 86 (depends on 85)

The kit of claim 85, wherein said point of access comprises an opening in the inner wall of said suture winding channel.

### Claim 87 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73, wherein said suture winding channel is located about the periphery of the central area.

### Claim 88 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 further comprising a cover sleeve enclosing said package.

### Claim 89 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 comprising more than one means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 90 (depends on 89)

The kit of claim 89 comprising at least one longitudinal wall extending from the base between adjacent means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 91 (depends on 90)

The kit of claim 90 comprising two means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 92 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 wherein the means for parking a needle comprises a plurality of hinged members extending from the base located along a longitudinal line.

### Claim 93 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 further comprising means for labeling located on the central area for identifying each needle and suture.

### Claim 94 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 wherein the spacer means comprises at least one planar member inserted into the channel, the member having a central hole therethrough such that the member fits in the winding channel.

### Claim 95 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 further comprising a foil overwrap in which the kit is sealed.

### Claim 96 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 further comprising at least one additional package for the surgical sutures and needles.

### Claim 97 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 further comprising an outer blister package in which the kit is sealed.

### Claim 98 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73 wherein the sutures comprise absorbable sutures.

### Claim 99 (depends on 73)

The kit of claim 73, wherein the sutures comprise nonabsorbable sutures.

### Claim 100

A surgical suture and needle procedure kit, comprising:
I) a package for surgical needles and sutures that defines a suture winding channel, said package comprising:
a base having a central area, the central area having an outer periphery;
an inner wall extending up from the base about central area;
an outer wall extending up from the base, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall form a suture winding channel;
at least one spacer means located in the channel for separating the channel into at least two coplanar sections; and,
at least one means for parking at least one needle located in said central area; and,
II) a plurality of surgical needles and sutures for a surgical procedure, the needles engaged by the needle park means and the sutures wound in the suture winding channel.

### Claim 101 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100 further comprising a cover sleeve enclosing said package.

### Claim 102 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100 comprising more than park means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 103 (depends on 102)

The kit of claim 102 comprising at least one longitudinal wall extending from the base between adjacent means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 104 (depends on 103)

The kit of claim 103 comprising two means for parking at least one needle.

### Claim 105 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100 wherein the means for parking a needle comprises a plurality of hinged members extending from the base located along a longitudinal line.

### Claim 106 (depends on 100)

The kit of Claim 100 further comprising means for labeling located on the central area for identifying each needle and suture.

### Claim 107 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100 wherein the spacer means comprises at least one planar member inserted into the channel, the member having a central hole therethrough such that the member fits in the winding channel.

### Claim 108 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100 further comprising a foil overwrap in which the kit is sealed.

### Claim 109 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100 further comprising a paper sleeve in which the kit is sealed.

### Claim 110 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100 further comprising an outer blister package in which the kit is sealed.

### Claim 111 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100 wherein the sutures comprise absorbable sutures.

### Claim 112 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100, wherein the sutures comprise nonabsorbable sutures.

### Claim 113 (depends on 100)

The kit of claim 100 wherein the surgical sutures wound in the suture winding channel are single-armed sutures comprising a single needle mounted thereto and wherein the needles mounted to said single-armed sutures are engaged by the needle park means.