Package for a combined surgical suture-needle device

Claim 2

A package for a combined surgical suture-needle device which comprises: a) an outer envelope of substantially moisture impervious material characterized by longitudinal side edges and top and bottom transverse edges, the envelope including first and second walls adhered to each other along their edges to define an accessible pocket between them for receiving a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member; a peelable closure flap hingedly adhered to an outer peripheral portion of said first wall and sealing access to the pocket of the outer envelope, the closure flap terminating in a grip-facilitating tab whose free edge terminates a distance away from the bottom transverse edge of the outer envelope; and c) a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member received within the pocket of the outer envelope; wherein the top transverse edge of said second wall terminates a sufficient distance from the top transverse edge of said first wall to which said closure flap hingedly adheres, to expose a portion of a surgical needle retained in said retainer member when said flap is peeled; said combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member (c) includes a panel being subdivided into a main panel portion and a fold-over panel portion attached to the main panel portion along a score line; and the bottom surface of the fold-over panel portion being adherently secured to a portion of the interior surface of the closure flap; whereby said package is opened in a single step by peeling of said closure flap, allowing access to the suture-needle combination contained therein without need to regrasp said package.

Claim 3

The package of claim 1 wherein said outer envelope (a) and closure flap (b) are fabricated from a laminate.

Claim 4

The package of claim 1 wherein said outer envelope (a) and closure flap (b) are fabricated from a laminate including an exterior surface layer of aluminum and an interior surface layer of a polyolefin.

Claim 5

The package of claim 1 wherein the free edge of the grip-facilitating tap of said closure flap (b) terminates at a point which lies at a distance of from about 20 to 80% of the length of the outer envelope as measured from the top transverse edge thereof.

Claim 6

The package of claim 1 wherein the free edge of the grip-facilitating tab of said closure flap (b) terminates at a point which lies at a distance of from about 40 to about 60% of the length of the outer envelope as measured from the top transverse edge thereof.

Claim 7

The package of claim 1, wherein said main panel has a mounting surface upon which a suture-retaining labyrinth is mounted and an aperture is provided through which a suture enclosed within said labyrinth passes upon removal of the combined surgical suture-needle device.

Claim 8

The package of claim 1, wherein said score line is a perforate score line.

Claim 9

The package of claim 1, wherein said peelable closure flap (b) is provided with a generally trapezoidal-shaped, knurled tab terminating at a point away from said bottom transverse edge of said outer envelope.

Claim 10

The package of claim 1, wherein said closure flap (b) is arranged to open in the longitudinal direction of said envelope (a).

Claim 11

The package of claim 1, wherein said retainer member (c) adheres to said closure flap (b) when said closure flap (b) is peeled away from said second wall.

Claim 12

A package for a combined surgical suture-needle device which comprises: a) an outer envelope of substantially moisture impervious material characterized by longitudinal side edges and top and bottom transverse edges, the envelope including first and second walls adhered to each other along their edges to define an accessible pocket between them for receiving a combined surgical suture-needle retainer member; b) a peelable closure flap hingedly adhered to a peripheral portion of said first wall and sealing access to the pocket of the outer envelope, the closure flap terminating in a grip-facilitating tab whose free edge terminates a distance away from the bottom transverse edge of the outer envelope; and c) a combined surgical suture-needle retainer member received within the pocket of the outer envelope; wherein the top transverse edge of said second wall terminates a sufficient distance from the bottom transverse edge of said first wall to which said closure flap hingedly adheres, to expose a portion of a surgical needle retained in said retainer member when said flap is peeled; wherein said combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member (c) includes a flat panel having an exposed bottom surface and a suture-retaining labyrinth mounting surface; the panel being sub-divided into a main panel portion and a fold-over panel portion attached to the main panel portion along a perforate score line; a suture retaining labyrinth mounted upon the suture-retaining labyrinth mounting surface of the flat panel and an aperture in the main panel portion through which a suture enclosed within the labyrinth passes upon removal of the combined surgical suture-needle device; the bottom surface of the fold-over panel portion being adherently secured to a portion of the interior surface of the closure flap; the bottom surface of the main panel portion being in non-adherent contact with the interior surface of the first wall of the outer envelope and the exposed surface of the suture-retaining labyrinth being in non-adherent contact with an interior surface of the second wall of the outer envelope; whereby said package is opened in a single step by peeling of said closure flap, allowing access to the suture-needle combination contained herein without need to regrasp said package.

Claim 13

A package for a combined surgical suture-needle device which comprises: a) an outer envelope of substantially moisture impervious material characterized by longitudinal side edges and top and bottom transverse edges, the envelope including first and second walls adhered to each other along their edges to define an accessible pocket between them for receiving a combined surgical suture-needle retainer member; b) a peelable closure flap hingedly adhered to a peripheral portion of said first wall and sealing access to the pocket of the outer envelope, the closure flap terminating in a grip-facilitating tab whose free edge terminates a distance away from the bottom transverse edge of the outer envelope; and c) a combined surgical suture-needle retainer member received within the pocket of the outer envelope; wherein the top transverse edge of said second wall terminates a sufficient distance from the bottom transverse edge of said first wall to which said closure flap hingedly adheres, to expose a portion of a surgical needle retained in said retainer member when said flap is peeled; wherein said combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member (c) includes a flat panel having an exposed bottom surface and a suture-retaining labyrinth mounting surface; the panel being sub-divided into a main panel portion and a fold-over panel portion attached to the main panel portion along a perforate score line; a suture retaining labyrinth mounted upon the suture-retaining labyrinth mounting surface of the flat panel and an aperture in the main panel portion through which a suture enclosed within the labyrinth passes upon removal of the combined surgical suture-needle device; the bottom surface of the fold-over panel portion being adherently secured to a portion of the interior surface of the closure flap; the bottom surface of the main panel portion being in non-adherent contact with the interior surface of the first wall of the outer envelope and the exposed surface of the suture-retaining labyrinth being in non-adherent contact with an interior surface of the second wall of the outer envelope; whereby said package is opened in a single step by peeling of said closure flap, allowing access to the suture-needle combination contained herein without need to regrasp said package.

Claim 14

The package of claim 11 wherein the fold-over panel portion possesses at least one passage for facilitating the circulation of gas therethrough.

Claim 15

The package of claim 11, wherein said aperture in said panel portion is situated adjacent to said fold-over portion, and said closure flap (b) is arranged to open in the longitudinal direction of said envelope (a).

Claim 16

A package for a combined surgical suture-needle device which comprises: a) an outer envelope of substantially moisture impervious material characterized by longitudinal side edges and top and bottom transverse edges, the envelope including first and second walls adhered to each other along their edges to define an accessible pocket between them for receiving a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member; b) a peelable closure flap hingedly adhered to a peripheral portion of said first wall and sealing access to the pocket of the outer envelope, he closure flap terminating in a grip-facilitating tab whose free edge terminates a distance away from the bottom transverse edge of the outer envelope; and c) a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member received within the pocket of the outer envelope; wherein said combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member (c) includes means for exposing at least a portion of at least one of a needle and an attached suture upon peeling of said closure flap (b) and a main panel having a mounting surface upon which a suture-retaining labyrinth is mounted, an aperture being provided through which a suture enclosed within said labyrinth passes upon removal of the combined surgical suture-needle device; and a fold-over panel attached to the mounting surface of said main panel along a score line, the bottom surface of said fold over panel adherently secured to a portion of the interior surface of said closure flap; whereby said package is opened in a single step by peeling of said closure flap, allowing access to the suture-needle combination contained therein without need to regrasp said package.

Claim 17

A package for a combined surgical suture-needle device which comprises: a) an outer envelope of substantially moisture impervious material characterized by longitudinal side edges and top and bottom transverse edges, the envelope including first and second walls adhered to each other along their edges to define an accessible pocket between them for receiving a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member; b) a peelable closure flap hingedly adhered to a peripheral portion of said first wall and sealing access to the pocket of the outer envelope, he closure flap terminating in a grip-facilitating tab whose free edge terminates a distance away from the bottom transverse edge of the outer envelope; and c) a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member received within the pocket of the outer envelope; wherein said combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member (c) includes means for exposing at least a portion of at least one of a needle and an attached suture upon peeling of said closure flap (b) and a main panel having a mounting surface upon which a suture-retaining labyrinth is mounted, an aperture being provided through which a suture enclosed within said labyrinth passes upon removal of the combined surgical suture-needle device; and a fold-over panel attached to the mounting surface of said main panel along a score line, the bottom surface of said fold over panel adherently secured to a portion of the interior surface of said closure flap; whereby said package is opened in a single step by peeling of said closure flap, allowing access to the suture-needle combination contained therein without need to regrasp said package.

Claim 18

The package of claim 14, wherein said retainer member (c) adheres to said closure flap (b) when said closure flap (b) is peeled away from said second wall.

Claim 19

The package of claim 14, wherein said closure flap (b) is arranged to open in the longitudinal direction of said envelope (a).

Claim 20

A package for a combined surgical suture-needle device which comprises: a) an outer envelope of substantially moisture impervious material characterized by longitudinal side edges and top and bottom transverse edges, the envelope including first and second walls adhered to each other along their edges to define an accessible pocket between them for receiving a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer; b) a peelable closure flap hingedly adhered to a peripheral portion of said first wall and sealing access to the pocket of the outer envelope, the closure flap terminating in a grip-facilitating tab whose free edge terminates a distance away from the bottom transverse edge of the outer envelope; and c) a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member received within the pocket of the outer envelope; wherein the top transverse edge of said second wall terminates a sufficient distance from the top transverse edge of said first wall to which said closure flap hingedly adheres, to expose a portion of a surgical needle retained in said retainer member when flap is peeled opened; wherein said retainer member (c) possesses means for adhering to said closure flap (b) when said closure flap (b) is peeled away from said second wall; wherein said retainer member (c) includes a main panel portion for retaining the suture and fold-over panel portion attached to the main panel portion along a score line; said means for adhering said retainer member (c) to said closure flap (b) comprising the bottom surface of said fold-over panel portion being adherently secured to the interior surface of said closure flap (b); and said main panel portion in non-adherent contact with said outer envelope (a); whereby said package is opened in a single step by opening of said closure flap, allowing access to the suture-needle combination contained therein without need to regrasp said package and whereby complete detachment of said closure flap (b) from said outer envelope (a) when said flap is peeled, and accidental puncturing of said outer envelope (a) by the needle when said flap (b) is closed, are both prevented.

Claim 21

A package for a combined surgical suture-needle device which comprises: a) an outer envelope of substantially moisture impervious material characterized by longitudinal side edges and top and bottom transverse edges, the envelope including first and second walls adhered to each other along their edges to define an accessible pocket between them for receiving a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer; b) a peelable closure flap hingedly adhered to a peripheral portion of said first wall and sealing access to the pocket of the outer envelope, the closure flap terminating in a grip-facilitating tab whose free edge terminates a distance away from the bottom transverse edge of the outer envelope; and c) a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member received within the pocket of the outer envelope; wherein the top transverse edge of said second wall terminates a sufficient distance from the top transverse edge of said first wall to which said closure flap hingedly adheres, to expose a portion of a surgical needle retained in said retainer member when flap is peeled opened; wherein said retainer member (c) possesses means for adhering to said closure flap (b) when said closure flap (b) is peeled away from said second wall; wherein said retainer member (c) includes a main panel portion for retaining the suture and fold-over panel portion attached to the main panel portion along a score line; said means for adhering said retainer member (c) to said closure flap (b) comprising the bottom surface of said fold-over panel portion being adherently secured to the interior surface of said closure flap (b); and said main panel portion in non-adherent contact with said outer envelope (a); whereby said package is opened in a single step by opening of said closure flap, allowing access to the suture-needle combination contained therein without need to regrasp said package and whereby complete detachment of said closure flap (b) from said outer envelope (a) when said flap is peeled, and accidental puncturing of said outer envelope (a) by the needle when said flap (b) is closed, are both prevented.

Claim 22

A package for a combined surgical suture-needle device which comprises: a) an outer envelope of substantially moisture impervious material characterized by longitudinal side edges and top and bottom transverse edges, the envelope including first and second walls adhered to each other along their edges to define an accessible pocket between them for receiving a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member; b) a peelable closure flap hingedly adhered to a peripheral portion of said first wall and sealing access to the pocket of the outer envelope, the closure flap terminating in a grip-facilitating tab whose free edge terminates a distance away from the bottom transverse edge of the outer envelope; and c) a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member received within the pocket of the outer envelope; wherein said combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member (c) includes means for exposing at least a portion of at least one of a needle and an attached suture upon peeling of said closure flap (b); wherein said retainer member (c) possesses means for adhering to said closure flap (b) when said closure flap (b) is peeled away from said second wall; wherein said retainer member (c) includes a main panel portion to retaining the suture and a fold-over panel portion attached to the main panel portion along a score line; said means for adhering said retainer member (c) to said closure flap (b) comprising the bottom surface of said fold-over panel portion being adherently secured to the interior surface of said closure flap (b); said main panel portion in non-adherent contact with said outer envelope (a); whereby said package is opened in a single step by peeling of said closure flap, allowing access to the suture-needle combination contained therein without need to regrasp the package and whereby complete detachment of said closure flap (b) from said outer envelope (a) when said flap (b) is peeled, and accidental puncturing of said outer envelope (a) by the needle when said flap (b) is closed, are both prevented.

Claim 23

A package for a combined surgical suture-needle device which comprises: a) an outer envelope of substantially moisture impervious material characterized by longitudinal side edges and top and bottom transverse edges, the envelope including first and second walls adhered to each other along their edges to define an accessible pocket between them for receiving a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member; b) a peelable closure flap hingedly adhered to a peripheral portion of said first wall and sealing access to the pocket of the outer envelope, the closure flap terminating in a grip-facilitating tab whose free edge terminates a distance away from the bottom transverse edge of the outer envelope; and c) a combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member received within the pocket of the outer envelope; wherein said combined surgical suture-needle device retainer member (c) includes means for exposing at least a portion of at least one of a needle and an attached suture upon peeling of said closure flap (b); wherein said retainer member (c) possesses means for adhering to said closure flap (b) when said closure flap (b) is peeled away from said second wall; wherein said retainer member (c) includes a main panel portion to retaining the suture and a fold-over panel portion attached to the main panel portion along a score line; said means for adhering said retainer member (c) to said closure flap (b) comprising the bottom surface of said fold-over panel portion being adherently secured to the interior surface of said closure flap (b); said main panel portion in non-adherent contact with said outer envelope (a); whereby said package is opened in a single step by peeling of said closure flap, allowing access to the suture-needle combination contained therein without need to regrasp the package and whereby complete detachment of said closure flap (b) from said outer envelope (a) when said flap (b) is peeled, and accidental puncturing of said outer envelope (a) by the needle when said flap (b) is closed, are both prevented.