GB1143756A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,143,756. Packaging sutures &c. ETHICON Inc. 19 Oct., 1966 [22 Oct., 1965], No. 46762/66. Addition to 1,118,819. Heading B8C. [Also in Division A5] Sutures are drawn through an elongated channel in which they are to be packaged by, or assisted by, a gaseous stream, means being provided to cut off the stream when they are correctly positioned in the channel. The means may include cutting off the stream in response to photo-electric detecting means or assisting the feed with rollers which stop in response to detecting means and cause shutting off of the stream. The stream may be formed by vacuum, air jets or a combination of both. The package and method of forming it may be substantially as described in Specification 1,065,118. Opposed sheets one having a sinuous embossment 52, are sealed together to form the channel, except, adjacent the ends 57, 58, vacuum being applied at right angles to the end 58 to draw the sutures in via the end 57. The sutures are checked by abutting the channel end at the end 58. The package is then completely sealed. The angled passages for vacuum, referred to above, may be provided at or adjacent the end 58, Figs. 5-8 (not shown). Continuous sutures from reels 66 may be fed by rollers 68 and vacuum into the channel 52 through a nozzle 69 which is raised at the end of the feed to permit severing at the line C-C. Additional feedmeans include air jets, pulsated vacuum and mechanical vibrations, operating in conjunction with the vacuum feed.