Patent US4684558A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4014433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package for moisture sensitive sutures and method for making same
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1975-05-27
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Granted: 1977-03-29
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Expires: 1995-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A laminated package comprising two panels of a moisture impervious material such as aluminum foil coated on adjacent interior surfaces with a heat sealable resin such as polypropylene, and peripherally heat sealed at the edge margins with a continuous and substantially bubble free seal to enclose a moisture sensitive suture within the package. The package is highly resistant to penetration by water vapor, and moisture sensitive sutures thus packaged are well protected against degradation by atmospheric moisture diffusing into the package through the heat seal layer during storage.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Cerwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06114; A61B17/06133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A substantially water vapor impervious package for moisture sensitive materials comprising two panels of a water vapor impermeable material coated on at least the edge margins of adjacent interior surfaces with a heat sealable polymer, said panels being joined through said edge margins about the periphery of said package by a continuous seal to enclose the moisture sensitive material within the central space of said package, said seal being characterized by having a square seal integrity of at least about 90 percent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A substantially water vapor impervious package for moisture sensitive materials comprising two panels of a water vapor impermeable material coated on at least the edge margins of adjacent interior surfaces with a heat sealable polymer, said panels being joined through said edge margins about the periphery of said package by a continuous seal to enclose the moisture sensitive material within the central space of said package, said seal being characterized by having a square seal integrity of at least about 90 percent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A package of claim 1 wherein said water vapor impermeable material is metal foil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A package of claim 2 wherein said metal foil is aluminum foil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A package of claim 3 wherein the aluminum foil is at least about 1.0 mil thick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A package of claim 1 wherein the heat sealable polymer coating has a thickness of from about 0.25 to 1.5 mils.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A package of claim 1 wherein the heat sealable polymer is a polyolefin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A package of claim 1 wherein the heat sealable polymer is polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A package of claim 1 wherein the heat sealable polymer is polyvinylidene chloride.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A package of claim 1 wherein the heat sealable polymer is ionomer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A package of claim 1 wherein the width of the seal is greater than about 1/8 inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A package of claim 1 wherein the moisture sensitive material is a surgical suture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
A substantially water vapor impervious package for moisture sensitive suture materials comprising two panels of water vapor impermeable metal foil coated on at least the edge margins of adjacent interior surfaces with a heat sealable polymer, said panels being joined through said edge margins about the periphery of said package by a continuous seal to enclose the moisture sensitive suture material within the central space of said package, said seal being characterized by a square seal integrity of 95 to 100 percent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
A substantially water vapor impervious package for moisture sensitive suture materials comprising two panels of water vapor impermeable metal foil coated on at least the edge margins of adjacent interior surfaces with a heat sealable polymer, said panels being joined through said edge margins about the periphery of said package by a continuous seal to enclose the moisture sensitive suture material within the central space of said package, said seal being characterized by a square seal integrity of 95 to 100 percent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A package of claim 12 wherein said metal foil is aluminum foil having a thickness of at least about 1.0 mil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A package of claim 12 wherein the minimum width of the seal is greater than about 1/8 inch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A package of claim 12 wherein the moisture sensitive suture material is a homopolymer or copolymer of lactide and glycolide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A package of claim 15 wherein the aluminum foil has a thickness of from about 1.25 to 2.0 mils.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A package of claim 16 wherein the minimum width of the seal is between about 5/32 and 1/2 inch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
A package of claim 17 wherein the heat sealable polymer is ionomer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A package of claim 17 wherein the heat sealable polymer is polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a method for packaging moisture sensitive suture materials by enclosing said suture material in a hermetically sealed package formed by two panels of metal foil coated on at least the end margins of adjacent interior surfaces with a heat sealable polymer, said panels being joined through said heat sealable polymer in a continuous seal around the periphery of said panels to enclose the moisture sensitive suture material in the central space thereof, the improvement comprising increasing the storage stability of said suture material by sealing said package with a seal having a square seal integrity of at least about 90 percent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a method for packaging moisture sensitive suture materials by enclosing said suture material in a hermetically sealed package formed by two panels of metal foil coated on at least the end margins of adjacent interior surfaces with a heat sealable polymer, said panels being joined through said heat sealable polymer in a continuous seal around the periphery of said panels to enclose the moisture sensitive suture material in the central space thereof, the improvement comprising increasing the storage stability of said suture material by sealing said package with a seal having a square seal integrity of at least about 90 percent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 20 wherein the minimum width of the seal is greater than about 1/8 inch.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of claim 20 wherein the minimum width of the seal is between about 5/32 and 1/2 inch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 22 wherein the seal has a square seal integrity of 95 to 100 percent.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 20 wherein the suture material is a homopolymer or copolymer of lactide and glycolide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method of claim 20 wherein the heat sealable polymer is ionomer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method of claim 20 wherein the heat sealable polymer is polyvinyl chloride.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-28 | 1980-09-27 | 1981-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-28 | 1984-09-27 | 1985-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-28 | 1988-09-27 | 1989-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |