Patent US5131533A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5131533A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Needle park
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1991-08-28
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Granted: 1992-07-21
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Expires: 2011-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A needle park for a package that holds one or more surgical needles and sutures has a generally planar base and two collinear walls that are perpendicular to the base. A cutout near one end of the first wall separates an end section of the wall from the base and separates all but a top segment of the end section from the rest of the wall. The second wall is separated from the end section by a gap. The end section and top segment of the first wall form a hinge that permits a needle to be held in the gap between the walls. In an alternative embodiment, both walls have cutouts and resultant hinges, thus permitting the needle park to hold needles of larger diameter. Preferably, the material of the needle park is a moldable thermoplastic. The needle park is inexpensive to fabricate and permits a needle in a broad range of diameters to be held simply and securely.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin Alpern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06114; A61B17/06133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A needle park for securing a needle, comprising a generally planar base, on which is a first wall, generally perpendicular to the base and having near one end a cutout that separates an end section of the wall from the base and separates all but a top segment of the end section from the rest of the wall; and a second wall, generally perpendicular to the base, generally collinear with the first wall, and having a first end adjacent to the end section of the first wall, whereby the needle may be secured between the end section of the first wall and the first end of the second wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A needle park for securing a needle, comprising a generally planar base, on which is a first wall, generally perpendicular to the base and having near one end a cutout that separates an end section of the wall from the base and separates all but a top segment of the end section from the rest of the wall; and a second wall, generally perpendicular to the base, generally collinear with the first wall, and having a first end adjacent to the end section of the first wall, whereby the needle may be secured between the end section of the first wall and the first end of the second wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The needle park of claim 1 in which the end section of the first wall and the first end of the second wall have adjoining facing surfaces that have complementary shapes, with substantially constant separation over the surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The needle park of claim 2 in which the facing surface of the end section of the first wall has a generally vertical groove that generally extends from the top of the surface to the bottom and that adjoins a generally top-to-bottom extending projection on the facing surface of the first end of the second wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The needle park of claim 1 in which the base is cut away in the region below and between the first and second walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The needle park of claim 1 in which the material of the park comprises a thermoplastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The needle park of claim 5 in which the material of the park is polypropylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A package for a surgical needle and suture, comprising the needle park of claim 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
A needle park for securing a needle, comprising a generally planar base on which are two generally collinear walls, generally perpendicular to the base and separated by a gap, each wall having, near that end of the wall which adjoins the gap, a cutout that separates an end section of the wall from the base and separates all but a top segment of the end section from the rest of the wall, whereby the needle may be secured in the gap between the end sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
A needle park for securing a needle, comprising a generally planar base on which are two generally collinear walls, generally perpendicular to the base and separated by a gap, each wall having, near that end of the wall which adjoins the gap, a cutout that separates an end section of the wall from the base and separates all but a top segment of the end section from the rest of the wall, whereby the needle may be secured in the gap between the end sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The needle park of claim 8 in which the end sections of the walls have facing surfaces that have complementary shapes, with substantially constant separation over the surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The needle park of claim 8 in which the base is cut away in the gap between the walls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The needle park of claim 8 in which the material of the park comprises a moldable thermoplastic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A package for a needle and suture comprising the needle park of claim 8.
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) | 1995-07-21 | 1996-01-20 | 1996-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-21 | 2000-01-20 | 2000-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-21 | 2004-01-20 | 2004-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |