CA1069468A - Package for multiple surgical sutures - Google Patents
Package for multiple surgical suturesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1069468A CA1069468A CA300,867A CA300867A CA1069468A CA 1069468 A CA1069468 A CA 1069468A CA 300867 A CA300867 A CA 300867A CA 1069468 A CA1069468 A CA 1069468A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- suture
- package
- panel
- panels
- sutures
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 25
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011087 paperboard Substances 0.000 description 2
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sulfate Chemical compound [O-]S([O-])(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001356 surgical procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
- A61B17/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials
- A61B17/06—Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials
- A61B17/06114—Packages or dispensers for needles or sutures
- A61B17/06133—Packages or dispensers for needles or sutures of parallelepipedal shape, e.g. made of rectangular or slightly oval panels
- A61B17/06138—Packages or dispensers for needles or sutures of parallelepipedal shape, e.g. made of rectangular or slightly oval panels including a retainer comprising three or more foldable panels
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Surgery (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Dentistry (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Surgical Instruments (AREA)
- Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A package for multiple strands of surgical sutures which provides for delivery of individual suture strands. The several sutures are contained within a single compartment of the package, with each suture being individually wound in the form of a coil comprising a series of convolutions, each convolution being laterally displaced from adjacent convolutions and disposed in sequence over the length of the suture. Each individual suture within the package compartment is laterally displaced from adja-cent sutures in a contiguous, partially overlapping relationship.
The desired suture coil configuration and positioning within the package compartment is conveniently obtained by sequentially winding individual sutures around two vertical winding pins in an upwardly spiraling pattern, with successive loops of each su-ture and successive sutures being displaced laterally along the pins. The wound sutures are packaged in a suture folder which is adapted to maintain the individual sutures in their wound con-figuration and in their relative positions with one end of each suture extending from the folder whereby individual suture strands may be grasped and withdrawn from the package without en-tangling sutures remaining in the package.
A package for multiple strands of surgical sutures which provides for delivery of individual suture strands. The several sutures are contained within a single compartment of the package, with each suture being individually wound in the form of a coil comprising a series of convolutions, each convolution being laterally displaced from adjacent convolutions and disposed in sequence over the length of the suture. Each individual suture within the package compartment is laterally displaced from adja-cent sutures in a contiguous, partially overlapping relationship.
The desired suture coil configuration and positioning within the package compartment is conveniently obtained by sequentially winding individual sutures around two vertical winding pins in an upwardly spiraling pattern, with successive loops of each su-ture and successive sutures being displaced laterally along the pins. The wound sutures are packaged in a suture folder which is adapted to maintain the individual sutures in their wound con-figuration and in their relative positions with one end of each suture extending from the folder whereby individual suture strands may be grasped and withdrawn from the package without en-tangling sutures remaining in the package.
Description
16)69~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ; ~
.
Field of the Invention The present invent1on re1ates to packages for surgical sutures, and more particularly to packages for multiple strands - 5 of sutures which allow single strand dispensing.
Description of Prior Ar~ --~ In many surgical procedures, the surgeon employs a largè
. . .
number of sutures in making the wound closure. Suture manufac- ~ -turers recognized this practice and offer many sutures in multi- ~
. ~ , .
strand packages. This is a matter of convenience to the surgeons .
. . .
~ -2-.
.
, :` - ~ .`.:
:
~ 4 6 ~
and operating room personnel in that they are requix.ed ~o open fewer packages and the multistrand packages serve to keep in-dividual sutures from becoming scattered during the course of the operation.
One problem associated with multiple suture packaging has been to provide a means for allowing individual sutures to be removed from the packages without entanglement. In other words, the multistrand suture package must provide for single strand dispensing. This characteristic of the package has been obtained heretofore by providing lndividual compartments within the pack-age for each suture as illustrated, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos~ 3,857,484 and 3,759,376. An alternative method is to pro-vide a single channel or tube for the length of the sutures as described, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos. 3,280,971, 3,338,401 and 3,972,418.
The present invention is concerned with multistrand su-ture packages of a novel type wherein the suture strands are neither placed in individual compartments nor contained in a single channel or tube, hut which nevertheless, allow for single strand dispensing. Moreover, the packages of the present inven- -tion are easily loaded by hand or machine and may be used with ; either needled or unneedled sutures. It is accordingly an ob-ject of the present invention to provide a new and improved pack-age for multiple strands of surgical sutures which provides for single strand delivery.
. .
~ .
6~
SUMMARY
In accordance with the presen~ inven~ion, packages are provided wherein a plurality of suture strands are maintained within a single compartment of the package as individual and ad-jacent filaments with each filament wound in the form o~ anelongated coil having a major and minor axis and comprising a plurality of overlapping convolutions disposed in sequence from one end of the suture to the other with the major axis of ad-jacent convolutions being laterally displaced one from the other, and with individual sutures being laterally displaced from ad-jacent sutures in a contiguous and partially overlapping rela-tionship.
The desired suture con~iguration is conveniently obtained by sequentially winding individual sutures around two vertical pins beginning at the bottom of the pins and winding in an up-ward spiral to provide a plurality of convolutions disposed in sequence over the length of the suture and along the axis of the pins with substantially no overlap between adjacent con~olutions of individual sutures or between adjacent ~utures. The su~ures may be wound around the pins as a series of figure-8 convolutions, as a series of circular loops, as a series of circulax loops having at least one reversal in the direction of winding, or as ~ ;
a combination of these.
A suture package is positioned to enclose the sutures and winding pins between two panels of the package in order to re-tain the sutures in posi~ion when the pins axe removed. Once the winding pins are removed, adjacent sutures assume a contigu-oua and partial1y overlapping relationship within the compartment , ' 68 ~
of the packa~e formed by the two panels. One end of each su-ture extends from one end of the package whereby individual su-tures may be grasped and withdrawn from the package without en-tangling sutures remaining in the package. Each suture may be multifilament or monofilament, and may have a needle attached to the end extending from the package.
The suture package may be formed of paper or plastic or other suitable material and is comprised of at least two panels and means for securing the panels toyether with the coiled sutures positioned therebetween. Particularly preferred is a foldable suture package constructed of a heavy weight, relatively stlff paper or paperboard such as S point or 12 point sold bleached sulfate board. The panels of such packages may employ integral locking means such as tabs and slots to secure the panels together, or alternatively, adhesiva or mechanical fastening means may be used.
Accordin~ to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multistrand suture pacXage pro-viding individual suture delivery. The package comprises a .
plurality of suture strands, each strand being individually coiled in a series of overlapping elongated convolutions dis-posed in sequence from one end o~ the suture to the other. Each convolution has a longitudinal axis lying in a plane, the longi-tudinal axis of adjacent convolutions of each suture strand being substantially parallel and laterally displaced from each other in the plane~ Each individual suture is laterally dis-placed from adjacent sutures in a contiguous and partially over-lapping relationship. The package also comprises suture retain-ing means which comprises a common suture compartment within the package, The suture strands are retained in the compartment in the aforesaid coniguration with one end o~ each suture ex-~ 5 -r~ :
. -., , . '. : ' '. . '. . ~ , . ' . . :, L68 `
tending from the compartment, whereby individual suture strands may be grasped and withdrawn from the compartment without en-tangling sutures remaining in the compartment.
DESCRI_TION OF DRAWINGS -A preferred embodiment of the present invention wilL
now be described with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of one preferred su-ture package for use in the present invention.
Figure 2 i a view in perspective of the suture package of Figure 1 positioned over two suture winding pins having a plurality of individual suture strands wound thereon in a figure-8 pattern.
Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the suture and package of Figure 2 after the package has been folded to re-tain the coiled sutures bet-een two panels.
" ' - 5a -' ' '.';' ' 6~
Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the package of Figure 3 after being removed from the winding pins.
Figure 5 is a transparent plan view of a plurality of adjacent sutures wound in the form of a figure-8 and retained in 5 a suture package.
Figure 6 is a view in perspective of two suture winding pins having a plurality of suture strands wound thereon in a circùlar pattern.
Figure 7 is a view in perspective of two suture winding 10 pins having a plurality of suture strands wound thereon in a com-l:>ination of figure-8 and circular windings.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Suture packages of the present invention are character- -ized by a plurality of ~uture strands individually coiled in the - 15 form of a series o overlapping figure-8 or elongated circular convolutions having a major and minor axis and wound in sequence over the length of the suture, the ma jor axis of each convolu-tion being laterally displaced so tha~ adjacent convolutions are not superimposed directly one upon the other, and with individual 20 sutures being laterally displaced from adjacent sutures ln a contiguous and partially overlapping relationship within a single package compartment.
The desired suture con~iguration may be obtained by any convenient method. In a particularly preferred method, individ-25 ual sutures are wound around two vertical pins beginning at the .~ ,' ~' "
-' '' 6~ ~ 8 bottom of the pins and winding in an upwardly spiraling pattern so that every loop on the pin is above the next preceding loop.
In this manner, overlapping of successive loops of individual sutures and of adjacent sutures is avoided and, when the pins are removed after means have been provided to maintain the su~ures in their relative positions~ the loops of individual sutures and of adjacent sutures are sequentially disposed and laterally displac-ed or offset one from the other.
The suture package may be of any construction effective to maintain the sutures in their desired coiled configuration and relative positions. Foldable suture packages are most convenient-ly used since the package may be open during the suture winding operation and then folded about th~ suture to retain the coiled suture before the supporting winding pins are removed.
Rapresentative figure-8 and circular suture configura~ ~`
tions and packages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the several drawings which illustrate preferred package designs and method of winding multistrand sutures to obtain the desired suture coils which allows single strand delivery from a multistrand package in accordance with the present in~ention.
Turning now to Figure 1, there is illustrated an open su-ture package blank adapted for packaging the coiled sutures of the present invention. The package is comprised of a foldable paperboaxd ha~ing five main panels identified as suture retaining panels 10 and 11 J end panels 13 and 14, and cover panel 12. ;~
Panel 10 is foldably attached to panel 11 through gussets 15 ': ' ' ' .
"
-7- ~
.-- : ' ~ ,':
- ~ . - .- . .. . : :
~L~6~8 which each contain a single circular opening 16. In addition, locking slot 20 is provided on the fold line between panels 10 and 11, locking tab 17 is provided on the outer edge of panel 10.
End panels 13 and 14 are foldably connected to panel 11 through hinge sections 24. Each panel includes a locking tab 22, and 14 additionally contains cutout 21 to provide an opening for removing sutures rom the package.
Cover panel 12 is foldably connected to panel 11 through gussets 15. As illus~rated, panel 12 contains three package lock ing ~lots identified as 18, 19 and 23, the function of which is hereinafter described.
Figure 2 illustrates the package of Figure 1 with suture winding pins 26 projecting upward through holes 16 and with a plurality of qutures 25 sequentially wound upon pins 16 in an up-wardly spiraling figure-8 configuration. In winding the individ-ual suture around pins 26, care is taken to avoid overlapping adjacent suture loops.
Figure 3 illustrates ~he suture package of Figure 2 with the coiled suture retainad between panel 11 and end panels 13 and 14 which have been folded inwardly over the suture coil. Tabs 22 o~ end panels 13 and 14 are locked in slot 23 o~ pane~ 12. The end~ o the individual sutures 25 project from the package through cutout 21 and panel 14.
~igure 4 illustrates the package of Figure 3 with panel 10 additionally folded over end panels 13 and 14 and locked in position by means of tab 17 being inserted through locking slot 18. The sutures extend from the package through cutout 29 in ~ ~ 6~
the end section of panel 10. Figure 4 additionally illustrates needles 27 attached to the end of the sutures 25 extending from the package. To complete the package, needles 27 and a~tached suture ends are folded back onto the outer surface of panel 10 and covered by panel 12 which folds forward over panel 10 and locks by inserting tab 19 into slot 20, whereby the needled ends of the suture are maintained within the confines of the package.
The configuration of the individually coiled sutures within the package is illustrated by Figure 5 which shows five individual sutures coiled in accordance with the present inven-tion and re~ained in a packaye comprising cover panel 32 heat sealed around peripheral border 30 to backing panel 33. Panel 33 is extended beyond panel 32 and adapted to be folded forward over panel 32 with tab 34 interlocking along edge 28 whereby the ends of sutures 25 are folded back over panel 32 and enclosed within the package. When panel 33 is opened, the ends of sutures 25 are readily available for grasping and individual sutures may be withdrawn from between panels 32 and 33 through opening 35.
Openings 31 in heat seal border 30 are openings for the suture 29 winding pins and may be sealed if desired once the pins are re- -moved.
Figure 6 illustrates winding pins 26 having a plurality of sutures 25 wound in the form of an upwardly spiraling circular coil. For the sake of clarity, the suture folder shown in Figu~e 1 is omitted, and the spacing of individual sutures on the winding pins is exaggerated.
Figure 7 illustrates a plurality of sutures 25 wound about pins 26 in a combination of circular and crossing coils.
As in Figure 6, the suture folder is omitted and adjacent su-tures are spaced widely apart for clarity of illustration.
The fabrication of tha suture package of Figure 5 by heat sealing is well-known in the art as described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,221,873, which is incorporated herein by reference for its teaching of materials and procedures in this regard~ With further reference to Figure 5, panel 32 is prefer ably a transparent heat sealable ilm or laminate while panel 33 is preferably paperboard, having a heat sealabl~ coating thereon.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, many variatlons in package design, materials and construction are permissible in providing the packages of the present invention. For example, panels 32 and 33 may be joined by the usa of an adhesive applied to the panels in the areas to be joined. The present invention is accordingly not limited by any particular package composition or structure.
Although the sutures are wound on the winding pins in a sequentialj nonQverlapping configuration, it will be appreciated that when the winding pins are removed and the coiled sutures are contained between the two panels of the package, the sutures as-sume the configuration as illustrated in Figure 5. In particular, overlapping convolutions within a single suture coil are lateral-ly disp}aced ~rom adjacent convolutions and disposed in sequence ~rom one end of the suture to the other. At the same time, the coils of each individual suture assume a contiguous and partially `` 1~6~46~
overlapping relationship with the coils of adjacent sutures.
The contiguous and partially overlapping relationship of adjacent sutures within a single package compartment distinguishes sutures packaged in accordance with the present invention from similar packages wherein individual sutures are packaged in adjacent but separate compartments and in a spaced-apart relationship as, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,857,484~
Sutures packaged in groups of 3 to 8 strands or more may be individually re~oved from the packages of the pxesent invention by simply grasping an exposed end of any singla suture and with-drawing the suture with a steady pull. The unique positioning o the sutures within the package allows individual suture strands to be withdrawn from the package without entangling the remaining sutures.
Sutures packaged in accordance with the pr~sent inven-tion may be multifilament or monofilam~nt sutures and multifila-ment sutures may be braided, twisted or covered. In addition, these sutures may be packaged with or without needles attached . . .
to the end of the suture which extends from the package.
While the foregoing has described a package construction and method for winding and loading sutures into the package in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
For example, the sutures may be wound on any apparatus which will provide the suturecoil con~igurations illustrated in Figures 5-7.
Once so wound, the suture may be loaded into any package which will effectively maintain the sutures in the desirea configura-tion and provide access to one end of individual sutures to psr-.
` mit withdrawal of the sutures from the package.
' ' ~,~,'.'.
''.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ; ~
.
Field of the Invention The present invent1on re1ates to packages for surgical sutures, and more particularly to packages for multiple strands - 5 of sutures which allow single strand dispensing.
Description of Prior Ar~ --~ In many surgical procedures, the surgeon employs a largè
. . .
number of sutures in making the wound closure. Suture manufac- ~ -turers recognized this practice and offer many sutures in multi- ~
. ~ , .
strand packages. This is a matter of convenience to the surgeons .
. . .
~ -2-.
.
, :` - ~ .`.:
:
~ 4 6 ~
and operating room personnel in that they are requix.ed ~o open fewer packages and the multistrand packages serve to keep in-dividual sutures from becoming scattered during the course of the operation.
One problem associated with multiple suture packaging has been to provide a means for allowing individual sutures to be removed from the packages without entanglement. In other words, the multistrand suture package must provide for single strand dispensing. This characteristic of the package has been obtained heretofore by providing lndividual compartments within the pack-age for each suture as illustrated, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos~ 3,857,484 and 3,759,376. An alternative method is to pro-vide a single channel or tube for the length of the sutures as described, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos. 3,280,971, 3,338,401 and 3,972,418.
The present invention is concerned with multistrand su-ture packages of a novel type wherein the suture strands are neither placed in individual compartments nor contained in a single channel or tube, hut which nevertheless, allow for single strand dispensing. Moreover, the packages of the present inven- -tion are easily loaded by hand or machine and may be used with ; either needled or unneedled sutures. It is accordingly an ob-ject of the present invention to provide a new and improved pack-age for multiple strands of surgical sutures which provides for single strand delivery.
. .
~ .
6~
SUMMARY
In accordance with the presen~ inven~ion, packages are provided wherein a plurality of suture strands are maintained within a single compartment of the package as individual and ad-jacent filaments with each filament wound in the form o~ anelongated coil having a major and minor axis and comprising a plurality of overlapping convolutions disposed in sequence from one end of the suture to the other with the major axis of ad-jacent convolutions being laterally displaced one from the other, and with individual sutures being laterally displaced from ad-jacent sutures in a contiguous and partially overlapping rela-tionship.
The desired suture con~iguration is conveniently obtained by sequentially winding individual sutures around two vertical pins beginning at the bottom of the pins and winding in an up-ward spiral to provide a plurality of convolutions disposed in sequence over the length of the suture and along the axis of the pins with substantially no overlap between adjacent con~olutions of individual sutures or between adjacent ~utures. The su~ures may be wound around the pins as a series of figure-8 convolutions, as a series of circular loops, as a series of circulax loops having at least one reversal in the direction of winding, or as ~ ;
a combination of these.
A suture package is positioned to enclose the sutures and winding pins between two panels of the package in order to re-tain the sutures in posi~ion when the pins axe removed. Once the winding pins are removed, adjacent sutures assume a contigu-oua and partial1y overlapping relationship within the compartment , ' 68 ~
of the packa~e formed by the two panels. One end of each su-ture extends from one end of the package whereby individual su-tures may be grasped and withdrawn from the package without en-tangling sutures remaining in the package. Each suture may be multifilament or monofilament, and may have a needle attached to the end extending from the package.
The suture package may be formed of paper or plastic or other suitable material and is comprised of at least two panels and means for securing the panels toyether with the coiled sutures positioned therebetween. Particularly preferred is a foldable suture package constructed of a heavy weight, relatively stlff paper or paperboard such as S point or 12 point sold bleached sulfate board. The panels of such packages may employ integral locking means such as tabs and slots to secure the panels together, or alternatively, adhesiva or mechanical fastening means may be used.
Accordin~ to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multistrand suture pacXage pro-viding individual suture delivery. The package comprises a .
plurality of suture strands, each strand being individually coiled in a series of overlapping elongated convolutions dis-posed in sequence from one end o~ the suture to the other. Each convolution has a longitudinal axis lying in a plane, the longi-tudinal axis of adjacent convolutions of each suture strand being substantially parallel and laterally displaced from each other in the plane~ Each individual suture is laterally dis-placed from adjacent sutures in a contiguous and partially over-lapping relationship. The package also comprises suture retain-ing means which comprises a common suture compartment within the package, The suture strands are retained in the compartment in the aforesaid coniguration with one end o~ each suture ex-~ 5 -r~ :
. -., , . '. : ' '. . '. . ~ , . ' . . :, L68 `
tending from the compartment, whereby individual suture strands may be grasped and withdrawn from the compartment without en-tangling sutures remaining in the compartment.
DESCRI_TION OF DRAWINGS -A preferred embodiment of the present invention wilL
now be described with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of one preferred su-ture package for use in the present invention.
Figure 2 i a view in perspective of the suture package of Figure 1 positioned over two suture winding pins having a plurality of individual suture strands wound thereon in a figure-8 pattern.
Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the suture and package of Figure 2 after the package has been folded to re-tain the coiled sutures bet-een two panels.
" ' - 5a -' ' '.';' ' 6~
Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the package of Figure 3 after being removed from the winding pins.
Figure 5 is a transparent plan view of a plurality of adjacent sutures wound in the form of a figure-8 and retained in 5 a suture package.
Figure 6 is a view in perspective of two suture winding pins having a plurality of suture strands wound thereon in a circùlar pattern.
Figure 7 is a view in perspective of two suture winding 10 pins having a plurality of suture strands wound thereon in a com-l:>ination of figure-8 and circular windings.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Suture packages of the present invention are character- -ized by a plurality of ~uture strands individually coiled in the - 15 form of a series o overlapping figure-8 or elongated circular convolutions having a major and minor axis and wound in sequence over the length of the suture, the ma jor axis of each convolu-tion being laterally displaced so tha~ adjacent convolutions are not superimposed directly one upon the other, and with individual 20 sutures being laterally displaced from adjacent sutures ln a contiguous and partially overlapping relationship within a single package compartment.
The desired suture con~iguration may be obtained by any convenient method. In a particularly preferred method, individ-25 ual sutures are wound around two vertical pins beginning at the .~ ,' ~' "
-' '' 6~ ~ 8 bottom of the pins and winding in an upwardly spiraling pattern so that every loop on the pin is above the next preceding loop.
In this manner, overlapping of successive loops of individual sutures and of adjacent sutures is avoided and, when the pins are removed after means have been provided to maintain the su~ures in their relative positions~ the loops of individual sutures and of adjacent sutures are sequentially disposed and laterally displac-ed or offset one from the other.
The suture package may be of any construction effective to maintain the sutures in their desired coiled configuration and relative positions. Foldable suture packages are most convenient-ly used since the package may be open during the suture winding operation and then folded about th~ suture to retain the coiled suture before the supporting winding pins are removed.
Rapresentative figure-8 and circular suture configura~ ~`
tions and packages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the several drawings which illustrate preferred package designs and method of winding multistrand sutures to obtain the desired suture coils which allows single strand delivery from a multistrand package in accordance with the present in~ention.
Turning now to Figure 1, there is illustrated an open su-ture package blank adapted for packaging the coiled sutures of the present invention. The package is comprised of a foldable paperboaxd ha~ing five main panels identified as suture retaining panels 10 and 11 J end panels 13 and 14, and cover panel 12. ;~
Panel 10 is foldably attached to panel 11 through gussets 15 ': ' ' ' .
"
-7- ~
.-- : ' ~ ,':
- ~ . - .- . .. . : :
~L~6~8 which each contain a single circular opening 16. In addition, locking slot 20 is provided on the fold line between panels 10 and 11, locking tab 17 is provided on the outer edge of panel 10.
End panels 13 and 14 are foldably connected to panel 11 through hinge sections 24. Each panel includes a locking tab 22, and 14 additionally contains cutout 21 to provide an opening for removing sutures rom the package.
Cover panel 12 is foldably connected to panel 11 through gussets 15. As illus~rated, panel 12 contains three package lock ing ~lots identified as 18, 19 and 23, the function of which is hereinafter described.
Figure 2 illustrates the package of Figure 1 with suture winding pins 26 projecting upward through holes 16 and with a plurality of qutures 25 sequentially wound upon pins 16 in an up-wardly spiraling figure-8 configuration. In winding the individ-ual suture around pins 26, care is taken to avoid overlapping adjacent suture loops.
Figure 3 illustrates ~he suture package of Figure 2 with the coiled suture retainad between panel 11 and end panels 13 and 14 which have been folded inwardly over the suture coil. Tabs 22 o~ end panels 13 and 14 are locked in slot 23 o~ pane~ 12. The end~ o the individual sutures 25 project from the package through cutout 21 and panel 14.
~igure 4 illustrates the package of Figure 3 with panel 10 additionally folded over end panels 13 and 14 and locked in position by means of tab 17 being inserted through locking slot 18. The sutures extend from the package through cutout 29 in ~ ~ 6~
the end section of panel 10. Figure 4 additionally illustrates needles 27 attached to the end of the sutures 25 extending from the package. To complete the package, needles 27 and a~tached suture ends are folded back onto the outer surface of panel 10 and covered by panel 12 which folds forward over panel 10 and locks by inserting tab 19 into slot 20, whereby the needled ends of the suture are maintained within the confines of the package.
The configuration of the individually coiled sutures within the package is illustrated by Figure 5 which shows five individual sutures coiled in accordance with the present inven-tion and re~ained in a packaye comprising cover panel 32 heat sealed around peripheral border 30 to backing panel 33. Panel 33 is extended beyond panel 32 and adapted to be folded forward over panel 32 with tab 34 interlocking along edge 28 whereby the ends of sutures 25 are folded back over panel 32 and enclosed within the package. When panel 33 is opened, the ends of sutures 25 are readily available for grasping and individual sutures may be withdrawn from between panels 32 and 33 through opening 35.
Openings 31 in heat seal border 30 are openings for the suture 29 winding pins and may be sealed if desired once the pins are re- -moved.
Figure 6 illustrates winding pins 26 having a plurality of sutures 25 wound in the form of an upwardly spiraling circular coil. For the sake of clarity, the suture folder shown in Figu~e 1 is omitted, and the spacing of individual sutures on the winding pins is exaggerated.
Figure 7 illustrates a plurality of sutures 25 wound about pins 26 in a combination of circular and crossing coils.
As in Figure 6, the suture folder is omitted and adjacent su-tures are spaced widely apart for clarity of illustration.
The fabrication of tha suture package of Figure 5 by heat sealing is well-known in the art as described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,221,873, which is incorporated herein by reference for its teaching of materials and procedures in this regard~ With further reference to Figure 5, panel 32 is prefer ably a transparent heat sealable ilm or laminate while panel 33 is preferably paperboard, having a heat sealabl~ coating thereon.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, many variatlons in package design, materials and construction are permissible in providing the packages of the present invention. For example, panels 32 and 33 may be joined by the usa of an adhesive applied to the panels in the areas to be joined. The present invention is accordingly not limited by any particular package composition or structure.
Although the sutures are wound on the winding pins in a sequentialj nonQverlapping configuration, it will be appreciated that when the winding pins are removed and the coiled sutures are contained between the two panels of the package, the sutures as-sume the configuration as illustrated in Figure 5. In particular, overlapping convolutions within a single suture coil are lateral-ly disp}aced ~rom adjacent convolutions and disposed in sequence ~rom one end of the suture to the other. At the same time, the coils of each individual suture assume a contiguous and partially `` 1~6~46~
overlapping relationship with the coils of adjacent sutures.
The contiguous and partially overlapping relationship of adjacent sutures within a single package compartment distinguishes sutures packaged in accordance with the present invention from similar packages wherein individual sutures are packaged in adjacent but separate compartments and in a spaced-apart relationship as, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,857,484~
Sutures packaged in groups of 3 to 8 strands or more may be individually re~oved from the packages of the pxesent invention by simply grasping an exposed end of any singla suture and with-drawing the suture with a steady pull. The unique positioning o the sutures within the package allows individual suture strands to be withdrawn from the package without entangling the remaining sutures.
Sutures packaged in accordance with the pr~sent inven-tion may be multifilament or monofilam~nt sutures and multifila-ment sutures may be braided, twisted or covered. In addition, these sutures may be packaged with or without needles attached . . .
to the end of the suture which extends from the package.
While the foregoing has described a package construction and method for winding and loading sutures into the package in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
For example, the sutures may be wound on any apparatus which will provide the suturecoil con~igurations illustrated in Figures 5-7.
Once so wound, the suture may be loaded into any package which will effectively maintain the sutures in the desirea configura-tion and provide access to one end of individual sutures to psr-.
` mit withdrawal of the sutures from the package.
' ' ~,~,'.'.
''.
Claims (19)
1. A multistrand suture package providing individual suture delivery comprising a plurality of suture strands, each strand being individually coiled in a series of over-lapping elongated convolutions disposed in sequence from one end of the suture to the other, each convolution having a longi-tudinal axis lying in a plane, the longitudinal axis of adjacent convolutions of each suture strand being substantially parallel and laterally displaced from each other in said plane, and each individual suture being laterally displaced from adjacent su-tures in a contiguous and partially overlapping relationship, and suture retaining means comprising a common suture compart-ment within said package, said suture strands being retained in said compartment in the aforesaid configuration with one end of each suture extending from said compartment, whereby individual suture strands may be grasped and withdrawn from said compartment without entangling sutures remaining in the compartment.
2. A package of claim 1 wherein said suture strands are coiled in a series of figure-8 convolutions.
3. A package of claim 1 wherein said suture strands are coiled in a series of oval convolutions.
4. A package of claim 1 wherein said suture strands are coiled in a series of circular convolutions having at least one reversal in the direction of winding.
5. A package of claim 1 wherein said suture strands have needles attached to the end extending from said compart-ment.
6. A package of claim 1 comprising a plurality of multifilament braided suture strands.
7. A package of claim 6 wherein said suture strands have needles attached.
8. A package of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises first and second panels foldably connected and adapted to hold the suture coils therebetween in a common suture compartment when said panels are in a folded position, and means associated with said panels for holding said panels in said folded position.
9. A suture package according to Claim 8 wherein the means for holding said panels in a folded position comprise a locking tab along a free edge of one panel which enters into alignment with and engages a locking slot in the other panel when said panels are in a folded position.
10. A suture package according to Claim 8 wherein the means for holding said panels in a folded position comprise stapling means.
11. A suture package according to Claim 8 wherein the means for holding said panels in a folded position comprise ad-hesive means.
12. A package of Claim 8 wherein the ends of the suture strands extending from the common suture compartment extend from between said first and second panels and are returned back over said second panel, and said package additionally comprises a third panel foldably attached to said first panel and adapted to be folded down over said suture ends to retain said ends in the aforesaid position over said second panel, and means associated with said third panel for holding said panel in said folded position.
13. A package of Claim 12 wherein said suture strands have needles attached to the ends retained by said third panel.
14. A package of Claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprise a first rectangular panel having major and minor edges, second and third panels foldably connected to said first panel along the minor edges thereof, and a fourth panel foldably con-nected to said first panel along one major edge thereof, said second and third panels being adapted to fold inwardly over said first panel to form a common suture compartment with said suture strands retained therein and said fourth panel being adapted to fold over said second and third panel, and means for holding said panels in the aforesaid folded positions.
15. A package of Claim 14 wherein said second and third panels have locking tabs and said first panel has a locking slot, said tabs and slot entering into alignment and engaging one an-other when said second and third panels are folded over said first panel.
16. A package of Claim 14 wherein said fourth panel has a locking tab and said first panel has a locking slot, said tab and slot entering into alignment and engaging one another when said fourth panel is folded over said second and third panels.
17. A package of Claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises first and second rectangular panels having the suture coils positioned therebetween, said panels being joined around the periphery of three sides to form a single suture compartment having an opening on one side thereof, said suture strands being enclosed within said compartment with one end extending from the compartment through the opening thereof.
18. A package of Claim 17 wherein said first and second panels are joined by a heat seal.
19. A package of Claim 17 wherein said first and second panels are joined by an adhesive.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US78717177A | 1977-04-13 | 1977-04-13 | |
| US05/849,562 US4126221A (en) | 1977-04-13 | 1977-11-08 | Package for multiple surgical sutures |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1069468A true CA1069468A (en) | 1980-01-08 |
Family
ID=27120620
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA300,867A Expired CA1069468A (en) | 1977-04-13 | 1978-04-11 | Package for multiple surgical sutures |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1069468A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2815644C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2387026A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1588092A (en) |
| IT (2) | IT1102579B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4089409A (en) * | 1977-02-04 | 1978-05-16 | Ethicon, Inc. | Package for multistrand surgical sutures |
| US4615435A (en) * | 1985-12-19 | 1986-10-07 | Ethicon, Inc. | Retainer for surgical sutures |
| US5048678A (en) * | 1989-04-19 | 1991-09-17 | American Cyanamid Company | Self-contained surgical suture package |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3280971A (en) * | 1963-07-16 | 1966-10-25 | Ethicon Inc | Coiled suture package |
| US3338401A (en) * | 1964-12-07 | 1967-08-29 | Ethicon Inc | Molded suture package |
| US3444994A (en) * | 1968-02-16 | 1969-05-20 | Ethicon Inc | Suture package |
| BE795434A (en) * | 1972-02-14 | 1973-08-14 | Ethicon Inc | SUTURE BAG |
| US3857484A (en) * | 1973-01-26 | 1974-12-31 | Ethicon Inc | Suture package |
| US3972418A (en) * | 1974-11-25 | 1976-08-03 | Ethicon, Inc. | Molded suture package |
-
1978
- 1978-03-22 FR FR7808345A patent/FR2387026A1/en active Granted
- 1978-04-11 CA CA300,867A patent/CA1069468A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-04-11 IT IT48846/78A patent/IT1102579B/en active
- 1978-04-11 DE DE2815644A patent/DE2815644C2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-04-11 IT IT7835754U patent/IT7835754V0/en unknown
- 1978-04-12 GB GB14336/78A patent/GB1588092A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2815644C2 (en) | 1986-05-28 |
| FR2387026A1 (en) | 1978-11-10 |
| IT7835754V0 (en) | 1978-04-11 |
| DE2815644A1 (en) | 1978-10-19 |
| GB1588092A (en) | 1981-04-15 |
| IT1102579B (en) | 1985-10-07 |
| FR2387026B1 (en) | 1983-11-18 |
| IT7848846A0 (en) | 1978-04-11 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |