Folder retainer for surgical sutures

Claim 2

A folded retainer for surgical sutures comprising: (a) first and second suture retaining panels foldably connected along one major edge thereof, (b) a foam member adhesively secured on facing surfaces of said first and second panels; (c) one of said first and second panels including a window exposing said adhesive securing the foam to said panel; and (d) a third panel foldably connected to an edge of the panel not having the window, said third panel being foldable about said edge so as to contact the adhesive exposed in said window.

Claim 3

The folded retainer for surgical sutures comprising: (a) first and second suture retaining panels foldably connected along one major edge thereof; (b) a foam member adhesively secured on facing surfaces of said first and second panels; (c) one of said first and second panels including at least one window exposing adhesive securing the foam to the panel; (d) a third panel foldably connected along a minor edge of the panel not having the window, said third panel being foldable about said edge so as to contact the adhesive exposed in said window; and (e) a fourth panel foldably connected to the other major edge of said second panel so as to overlie said first panel in its folded configuration.

Claim 4

The folded retainer for surgical sutures comprising: (a) first and second suture retaining panels foldably connected along one major edge thereof; (b) a foam member adhesively secured on facing surfaces of said first and second panels; (c) one of said first and second panels including at least one window exposing adhesive securing the foam to the panel; (d) a third panel foldably connected along a minor edge of the panel not having the window, said third panel being foldable about said edge so as to contact the adhesive exposed in said window; and (e) a fourth panel foldably connected to the other major edge of said second panel so as to overlie said first panel in its folded configuration.

Claim 5

A retainer of claim 2 having integral locking means to secure said retainer in its folded configuration.

Claim 6

A retainer of claim 3 wherein the integral locking means are interlocking tabs disposed at one major edge of the fourth panel and at the major edge where the first and second panels are connected.

Claim 7

A folded retainer according to claims, 2, 3, or 4 wherein the third panel includes a depressible flap means for contacting exposed adhesive in the window.

Claim 8

A retainer of claim 2 including dual parallel fold lines between said first and second and said second and fourth panels.

Claim 9

A retainer of claim 6 including openings for suture winding pins within the parallel fold lines between the said first and second panels.

Claim 10

A suture package comprising in combination a folded retainer of claim 2, 3, or 4 and a plurality of sutures positioned between said first and second panels, said suture package enclosed in an outer envelope sealed around the periphery thereof.

Claim 11

A suture package of claim 8 wherein said sutures are collated into a bundle of substantially aligned strands and coiled between said first and second panels in a figure 8 configuration.

Claim 12

A folded retainer according to claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein the foam members are separate pieces of foam, one attached to said first panel and a second attached to said second panel and disposed so that on closing the foam members face each other.