US3972418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molded suture package
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1974-11-25
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Granted: 1976-08-03
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Expires: 1994-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A laminated molded sterilizable package for sutures is constructed of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet. The molded sheet has a centrally located needle chamber recess and a long, narrow suture channel extending outward of and in a generally spiral path around the needle chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the suture channel is characterized by having at least one curve in a reverse direction from the general direction of the spiral. The package is opened by peeling a portion of the cover sheet from the molded sheet to uncover the needle chamber and an adjacent length of the suture channel. The package is suitable for use with heavy denier monofilament sutures which may be withdrawn from the package singly or in groups. Sutures delivered from the package are characterized by having only gentle bends with no loops or coils and are suitable for use with little or no further straightening.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Schuler
- 👤 Eberhard H. Thyen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06114; A61B17/06133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
In a package for armed sutures comprising a laminate of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet, said molded sheet defining an elongated suture channel terminating at one end in an enlarged needle chamber, said channel and said chamber having a bottom and side walls, said bottom being displaced from the normal plane of the molded sheet and said side walls extending from said bottom to said normal plane of the molded sheet, said channel and said chamber being open to one side of the molded sheet, said cover sheet being flat and sealed to said molded sheet along the open side of said channel and said chamber to close said channel and said chamber and form a closed suture channel terminating at one end in a closed needle chamber, the improvement comprising locating the needle chamber centrally of the package, extending the suture channel in a path circumscribing said needle chamber, and precutting the cover sheet along a line intermediate the needle chamber and adjacent convolutions of the suture channel whereby a portion of the cover sheet is adapted to be opened to provide access to the needle chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a package for armed sutures comprising a laminate of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet, said molded sheet defining an elongated suture channel terminating at one end in an enlarged needle chamber, said channel and said chamber having a bottom and side walls, said bottom being displaced from the normal plane of the molded sheet and said side walls extending from said bottom to said normal plane of the molded sheet, said channel and said chamber being open to one side of the molded sheet, said cover sheet being flat and sealed to said molded sheet along the open side of said channel and said chamber to close said channel and said chamber and form a closed suture channel terminating at one end in a closed needle chamber, the improvement comprising locating the needle chamber centrally of the package, extending the suture channel in a path circumscribing said needle chamber, and precutting the cover sheet along a line intermediate the needle chamber and adjacent convolutions of the suture channel whereby a portion of the cover sheet is adapted to be opened to provide access to the needle chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A package of claim 1 wherein the suture channel defines a spiral circumscribing said needle chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A package of claim 2 wherein the suture channel has at least one curve in a reverse direction from the primary direction of said spiral.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A package of claim 1 wherein a narrow portion of the cover sheet along either side of said precut line is not sealed to said molded sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A package of claim 1 wherein the molded sheet has a hole opposite that portion of the cover sheet adapted to be opened and adjacent said precut line in said cover sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a package for armed sutures comprising a laminate of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet, said molded sheet defining an elongated suture channel terminating at one end in an enlarged needle chamber, said channel and said chamber having a bottom and side walls, said bottom being displaced from the normal plane of the molded sheet and said side walls extending from said bottom to said normal plane of the molded sheet, said channel and said chamber being open to one side of the molded sheet, said cover sheet being flat and sealed to said molded sheet along the open side of said channel and said chamber to close said channel and said chamber and form a closed suture channel terminating at one end in a closed needle chamber the improvement comprising locating the needle chamber centrally of the package, providing said needle chamber with a centrally located plateau extending from the bottom of the chamber to the normal plane of the molded sheet, and extending the suture channel from the needle chamber in a path circumscribing said needle chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a package for armed sutures comprising a laminate of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet, said molded sheet defining an elongated suture channel terminating at one end in an enlarged needle chamber, said channel and said chamber having a bottom and side walls, said bottom being displaced from the normal plane of the molded sheet and said side walls extending from said bottom to said normal plane of the molded sheet, said channel and said chamber being open to one side of the molded sheet, said cover sheet being flat and sealed to said molded sheet along the open side of said channel and said chamber to close said channel and said chamber and form a closed suture channel terminating at one end in a closed needle chamber the improvement comprising locating the needle chamber centrally of the package, providing said needle chamber with a centrally located plateau extending from the bottom of the chamber to the normal plane of the molded sheet, and extending the suture channel from the needle chamber in a path circumscribing said needle chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a package for armed sutures comprising a laminate of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet, said molded sheet defining an elongated suture channel terminating at one end in an enlarged needle chamber, said channel and said chamber having a bottom and side walls, said bottom being displaced from the normal plane of the molded sheet and said side walls extending from said bottom to said normal plane of the molded sheet, said channel and said chamber being open to one side of the molded sheet, said cover sheet being flat and sealed to said molded sheet along the open side of said channel and said chamber to close said channel and said chamber and form a closed suture channel terminating at one end in a closed needle chamber, the improvement comprising locating the needle chamber centrally of the package, extending the suture channel in a path circumscribing said needle chamber, and interrupting the continuity of the sidewalls of said suture channel by a plurality of projections extending into said channel from the walls thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a package for armed sutures comprising a laminate of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet, said molded sheet defining an elongated suture channel terminating at one end in an enlarged needle chamber, said channel and said chamber having a bottom and side walls, said bottom being displaced from the normal plane of the molded sheet and said side walls extending from said bottom to said normal plane of the molded sheet, said channel and said chamber being open to one side of the molded sheet, said cover sheet being flat and sealed to said molded sheet along the open side of said channel and said chamber to close said channel and said chamber and form a closed suture channel terminating at one end in a closed needle chamber, the improvement comprising locating the needle chamber centrally of the package, extending the suture channel in a path circumscribing said needle chamber, and interrupting the continuity of the sidewalls of said suture channel by a plurality of projections extending into said channel from the walls thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A package of claim 7 wherein said projections extend into said channel for a distance of at least one-eighth the width of said channel in the normal plane of the molded film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A package of claim 7 wherein the suture channel defines a spiral circumscribing said needle chamber and said channel has at least one curve in a reverse direction from the primary direction of said spiral.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A package of claim 9 wherein said projections reduce the cross-sectional area of the suture channel in said reverse curve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A package of claim 10 wherein said reverse curve has at least two projections extending from opposite walls of the channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A package of claim 7 wherein the continuity of the walls of the needle chamber are interrupted by a plurality of projections extending into the chamber from the walls thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A package of claim 12 wherein said projections extend into said channel and said chamber for a distance of at least one-eighth the width of said channel in the normal plane of the molded film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A package of claim 13 wherein the needle chamber has a centrally located plateau extending from the bottom of the chamber to the normal plane of the molded sheet, and a chamber cover held in place within the walls of said chamber by engagement between said projections and said central plateau.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a package for armed sutures comprising a laminate of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet, said molded sheet defining an elongated suture channel terminating at one end in an enlarged needle chamber, said channel and said chamber having a bottom and side walls, said bottom being displaced from the normal plane of the molded sheet and said side walls extending from said bottom to said normal plane of the molded sheet, said channel and said chamber being open to one side of the molded sheet, said cover sheet being flat and sealed to said molded sheet along the open side of said channel and said chamber to close said channel and said chamber and form a closed suture channel terminating at one end in a closed needle chamber, the improvement comprising locating the needle chamber centrally of the package, extending the suture channel in a path circumscribing said needle chamber, and undercutting the sidewalls of said suture channel in the curves to reduce the width of the channel opening in the plane of the molded sheet in said curves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a package for armed sutures comprising a laminate of a first molded sheet and a second cover sheet, said molded sheet defining an elongated suture channel terminating at one end in an enlarged needle chamber, said channel and said chamber having a bottom and side walls, said bottom being displaced from the normal plane of the molded sheet and said side walls extending from said bottom to said normal plane of the molded sheet, said channel and said chamber being open to one side of the molded sheet, said cover sheet being flat and sealed to said molded sheet along the open side of said channel and said chamber to close said channel and said chamber and form a closed suture channel terminating at one end in a closed needle chamber, the improvement comprising locating the needle chamber centrally of the package, extending the suture channel in a path circumscribing said needle chamber, and undercutting the sidewalls of said suture channel in the curves to reduce the width of the channel opening in the plane of the molded sheet in said curves.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A package of claim 15 wherein the inside curves of said side walls are undercut.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-03 | 1980-02-02 | 1980-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-03 | 1984-02-02 | 1984-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-03 | 1988-02-02 | 1988-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |