US3985227A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package for armed sutures
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
•
Filing: 1975-11-05
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Granted: 1976-10-12
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Expires: 1995-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A one-piece folded suture package for a plurality of single or double-armed sutures comprising a front panel, a back panel and two inner panels. The sutures are individually mounted on the two inner panels with the needles at one end and the suture strand extending therefrom over the length of the panel and secured near the other end of the panel. The panels are offset in a vertical direction to expose the upper end of both inner panels and display the needles in two horizontal tiers. The sutures are removable from the package by grasping the needles and withdrawing the suture strand from between the panels of the package. The package is optionally provided with a cover flap to cover the needle display area and integral locking means to secure the package in its folded construction.
Inventors
- 👤 Eberhard Thyen
- 👤 Peter Komarnycky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06114; A61B17/06133; A61B17/06138; A61B2017/06057; A61B2017/06142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A one-piece folded suture package comprising a front panel, a first inner panel, a second inner panel and a back panel, said first and second inner panels having needle mounting means at the upper end thereof and suture strand retaining means at the lower end thereof corresponding in number to said needle mounting means, said first inner panel extending above the top of said front panel to expose said needle mounting means of said first inner panel, said second inner panel extending above the top of said first inner panel to expose said needle mounting means of said second inner panel, at least one armed suture comprising a suture strand having at least one needle affixed to an end thereof mounted on each of said inner panels with the needles of said sutures mounted on said needle mounting means and the strands of said sutures secured by said suture strand retaining means, and means for securing said package in said folded construction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A one-piece folded suture package comprising a front panel, a first inner panel, a second inner panel and a back panel, said first and second inner panels having needle mounting means at the upper end thereof and suture strand retaining means at the lower end thereof corresponding in number to said needle mounting means, said first inner panel extending above the top of said front panel to expose said needle mounting means of said first inner panel, said second inner panel extending above the top of said first inner panel to expose said needle mounting means of said second inner panel, at least one armed suture comprising a suture strand having at least one needle affixed to an end thereof mounted on each of said inner panels with the needles of said sutures mounted on said needle mounting means and the strands of said sutures secured by said suture strand retaining means, and means for securing said package in said folded construction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A package of claim 1 wherein said first and second inner panels are foldably connected to said front and back panels respectively and said front and back panels are foldably connected to each other, whereby said suture package is formed by folding said first and second inner panels inwardly over said front and back panels respectively, and thereafter folding said front and first inner panel inwardly over said back and second inner panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A package of claim 1 wherein said needle mounting means on said first and second inner panels comprise needle receiving apertures in said panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A package of claim 1 wherein said needle mounting means on said first and second inner panels comprise three-dimensional resilient pierceable polymeric blocks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A package of claim 4 wherein said blocks are removably secured to said panels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A package of claim 1 wherein said suture strand retaining means on said first and second inner panels comprise suture receiving tabs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A package of claim 6 wherein said tabs are laterally projecting triangular tabs with the base of the triangle oriented toward the needle mounting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
A package of claim 1 constructed of paper or paperboard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A package of claim 1 wherein said first and second inner panels are provided with interlocking means to secure said package in said folded construction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A package of claim 9 wherein said interlocking means comprise a tab and slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A package of claim 1 wherein said suture is a double-armed suture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
224 words
A one-piece folded suture package comprising a front panel, a first inner panel, a second inner panel and a back panel and means for securing said panels in a folded construction, said first and second inner panels having needle mounting means at the upper end thereof and suture restraining means at the lower end thereof corresponding in number to said needle mounting means, said first inner panel extending above the top of said front panel to expose said needle mounting means of said first inner panel, said second inner panel extending above the top of said first inner panel to expose said needle-mounting means of said second inner panel, at least one needle affixed to an end thereof mounted on each of said inner panels with the needles of said sutures mounted on said needle mounting means and the strands of said sutures secured by said suture strand retaining means, a cover flap extending from the top of said back panel and adapted to be folded over said first and second inner panels and said front panel, and means for securing said cover flap to said front panel to enclose the needle mounting means of said first and second inner panels, whereby when said cover flap is opened said needles are exposed for grasping to remove said needles and suture from said inner panels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
224 words
A one-piece folded suture package comprising a front panel, a first inner panel, a second inner panel and a back panel and means for securing said panels in a folded construction, said first and second inner panels having needle mounting means at the upper end thereof and suture restraining means at the lower end thereof corresponding in number to said needle mounting means, said first inner panel extending above the top of said front panel to expose said needle mounting means of said first inner panel, said second inner panel extending above the top of said first inner panel to expose said needle-mounting means of said second inner panel, at least one needle affixed to an end thereof mounted on each of said inner panels with the needles of said sutures mounted on said needle mounting means and the strands of said sutures secured by said suture strand retaining means, a cover flap extending from the top of said back panel and adapted to be folded over said first and second inner panels and said front panel, and means for securing said cover flap to said front panel to enclose the needle mounting means of said first and second inner panels, whereby when said cover flap is opened said needles are exposed for grasping to remove said needles and suture from said inner panels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A package of claim 12 wherein said first and second inner panels are foldably connected to said front and back panels respectively and said front and back panels are foldably connected to each other, whereby said suture package is formed by folding said first and second inner panels inwardly over said front and back panels respectively, thereafter folding said front and first inner panel inwardly over said back and second inner panel, and thereafter folding said cover flap over said first and second inner panels and said front panel and securing said cover flap to said front panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A package of claim 12 wherein said cover flap is secured to said front panel by an interlocking tab and slot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
A package of claim 12 constructed of paper or paperboard.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
A package of claim 12 wherein said suture is a double-armed suture.
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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) | 1979-10-12 | 1980-04-12 | 1980-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-12 | 1984-04-12 | 1984-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-12 | 1988-04-12 | 1988-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |