GB1590967A

GB1590967A - Package for multistrand surgical sutures

Info

Publication number: GB1590967A
Application number: GB5272477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ethicon Inc
Current assignee: Ethicon Inc
Priority date: 1976-12-20
Filing date: 1977-12-19
Publication date: 1981-06-10
Also published as: FR2374016A1; FR2374016B1; DE2754936A1

Description

(54) PACKAGE FOR MULTISTRAND SURGICAL SUTURES (71) We, ETHICON, INc., a;Corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey, United States of America, of Somer- ville, New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to 'be particularly described in and by the follow ing statement: BACKGROUNJO -OF THE INVENTION Field of the.Inventiozl The present invention relates to packages for surgical sutures, .and more particularly to packages for multiple suture strands which allow single strand dispensing.

Description of rrior Art In many surgical procedures, the surgeon employs a large number of sutures in making the wound closure. :Suture manufacturers recognized this practice and offer many sutures in multi strand packages. This is a matter of convenience to the surgeons and operating room personnel in that they are required to open fewer packages and the -multi-strand packages serve to keep individu al 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 tote removed from the package without entanglement. In other words, the multistrand suture package must provide for single strand dispensing.

This characteristic of the package has been 'obtained heretofore hy providing individual compartments within the package for each suture --as illustrated ifor example in U.S.

3,857,484 and 3,759,376. An alternative method is to provide a single channel or tube for the length of the sutures as described, for example, -in U.S. 3,280,971 and 3,338,401 and 3,972,418.

The present invention is concerned with ,multistrand suture packages of a novel type wherein the suture strands are neither placed in individual compartments nor contained in a single channel or tube, but which, -neverthe- less, allow for single strand dispensing. More- (over, the packages of the present invention are .easily.loaded by hand or machine and may be used with either needled or unneedled sutures. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved package for multiple strands of surgical sutures which provides for single strand delivery.

SUMMARY In accordance with the present invention, we provide a rnultistrand .suture package allowing individual suture delivery compris ing a first panel, --a lurality of sutures dis- closed on said panel as a bundle of substan tally aligned strands in a series of sequential open loops defining a sinusoidal wave pattern, as herein defined, extending across the width of said panel, and means for .maintaining said sutures in said wave pattern on said panel with at least one end of the sutures being available for grasping whereby said sutures .may be individually removed from the package.

The term "sinusoidal wave pattern" em played in the present description and dlaims is to be interpreted in a broad sense in that it -is not restricted to pure sine wave patterns, in the mathematical sense, but includes com parable meandering patterns extending across the width of the "first" panel.

The loops of the said wave pattern are individually .maintained within the package .by appropriate means such as individual compartments. The package conveniently consists of a .series of adjacent, parallel compartments or pockets corresponding in:num- ber to the number of suture loops to be retained. As individual sutures.are removed from the package, successive loops of those sutures are withdrawn in sequence from successive package compartments without en- tangling or.removing the other sutures.remain- ing in the compartment.

In place of pockets or compartments to -contain the suture loops the package may -òmpn.se a series of openings to receive individual loops of the suture bundle and thereby maintain the suture in the abovementioned wave pattern within the package The package may be formed of paper of plastic and -may include cover flaps, needle holding means and the like which are conventional in the suture packaging art.

DESCRIPTION OF DRA WINGS Figure 1 is a plan view of a package of the present invention embodying a series of pockets as suture storage compartments.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of another package which includes a cover panel and a needle mounting panel in combination with a series of open cylinders as suture storage compartments.

Figure 3 illustrates the package of Figure 2 in an outer sleeve with the cover panel closed and the needle mounting panel open for access to the sutures.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a package utilising a series of double orifices to maintain the sutures in a wave pattern as mentioned above.

Figure 5 illustrates one method of loading multi-strand sutures into an open cylinder type of suture storage compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Suture packages of the present invention are characterised by comprising a plurality of sutures disposed as a bundle of substantially aligned strands in a sinusoidal wave pattern, as herein defined, and integral means for maintaining the suture bundle in the desired wave pattern within the package. The wave pattern of the suture bundle is defined by a series of open loops which extend in sequence over the length of the suture and across the width of the "first" panel. The loops are retained in the package by appropriate means which do not interfere with subsequent withdrawal of the sutures from the loops. At least one end of the suture bundle is made available for the grasping of individual sutures whereby these may be withdrawn from the bundle within the package.

The sutures are collated into a bundle of substantially aligned and parallel strands prior to being loaded into the package.

Parallel strand alignment assures minimum interference between strands as indiviudal strands are subsequently withdrawn from the bundle. Absolutely parallel alignment, however, is not essential to obtain individual suture delivery from the packages of the present invention.

The suture bundle is formed into a wave pattern as mentioned above and retained in that wave pattern within the package by any suitable means. For example, the individual loops of the suture bundle may be contained within separate and adjacent compartments within the package. It is important that the loops be maintained separately and in sequential order over the length of the suture to facilitate the subsequent withdrawal of individual sutures from the package.

Packages of the present invention may include, in addition to the suture retaining means, associated conventional package elements such as cover panels, needle mounting or holding means and package sleeves and containers. In addition, elements such as cover panels and needle mounting panels intended to be folded may employ integral locking means to maintain these elements in a folded configuration.

Turning now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a suture storage compartment in accordance with the present invention comprising a series of parallel pockets 10 defined by sealed edges 9 and containing sequential loops of suture bundle 11 which defines a wave pattern as mentioned above across the width of the suture storage compartment. Suture bundle 11 terminates outside the end pocket of the storage compartment where the ends of the sutures 12 are readily grasped to withdraw individual sutures from the package. Individual suture 13 is illustrated being withdrawn from the storage compartment, having already been withdrawn from the first three pockets and being in the process of being withdrawn from the fourth pocket in the series.

Figure 2 illustrates a complete package for needled sutures comprising a suture storage compartment panel 14 and open cylinders 15 forming adjacent suture loop compartments 16. Storage compartment cover panel 17 is attached to the suture storage compartment through hinge section 18 and fold lines 19 and 20. Needle mounting panel 21 is attached to the suture storage compartment through hinge 22 and fold lines 23 and 24.

Needle mounting panel 21 includes a plurality of needle mounting means 25 which correspond in number to the number of suture strands in the package. Suture 26 with needle 27 is illustrated as having been removed from needle mounting panel 21 and as withdrawn from the first three suture loop compartments in the package. Cover panel 17 is illustrated with tab 28 which serves as locking means in cooperation with slot 29 in panel 14 when the cover panel is in the closed position.

Cover panel 17 and needle mounting panel 21 are preferably attached to panel 14 through hinge sections 18 and 22, respectively, in order to accommodate the thickness of the suture storage compartments. The hinge sections allow the folded package to maintain a substantially flat, rectangular configuration.

Single fold line attachment of the cover and needle mounting panels, while a permissible variation of the present invention, necessarily results in these panels being bowed when in a closed position.

Figure 3 illustrates the package of Figure 2 with cover panel 17 closed and locked by tab 28 and slot 29 but with needle mounting panel 21 open to present needled sutures 30 for convenient removal from the package.

Figure 3 further illustrates package sleeve 31 which serves to maintain needle mounting panel 21 in a closed position when the package is inserted fully into the sleeve and also serves as a convenient label mounting surface.

Figure 4 illustrates a variation in suture storage compartment design wherein suture loops 32 are maintained in a wave pattern as mentioned above on panel 33 by having individual loops passed through openings 34 and 35.

Figure 5 illustrates one method for loading a bundle of sutures into a suture storage compartment which comprises a series of open cylinders. In accordance with this method, suture bundle 11 is placed along the upper edge of panel 14 above cylinders 15 so that one end of the suture bundle extends beyond the side edge of panel 14 a short distance approximately equal to the length of the suture loops. Wire hooks 36 are then inserted through cylinders 15 to engage the suture bundle 11 with hook means 37. Beginning with the outermost hook engaging the suture bundle near the end extending only a short distance beyond the edge of panel 14, consecutive hooks are successively withdrawn through the respective cylinders, causing the suture bundle to be drawn into each cylinder. As each successive hook is withdrawn, the suture bundle 11 is drawn across the top of the empty cylinders and down into the cylinder being loaded until as the last hook is withdrawn the suture bundle 11 is completely contained within the series of cylinders 15, in a wave pattern as mentioned above, with at least one end of the suture bundle extending from an end storage compartment.

The suture packags of the present invention are characterized by a suture storage compartment section wherein a bundle of sutures is contained in a series of loops defining a wave pattern as mentioned above. The abovedescribed figures illustrates preferred means by which the suture bundle may be obtained and maintained in the desired wave pattern.

The sutures in the bundle may be needled or unneedled and, if needled, the package preferably includes needle mounting means associated with the suture storage compartment section.

The suture packages of the present invention may be constructed of a heavyweight, relatively stiff paper or paperboard such as five point to twelve point solid bleached sulphate board. This paperboard is readily foldable and yet sufficiently strong and stiff to support the sutures and provide a relatively rigid package. Similarly foldable materials, including plastics, foils and laminates of these with each other or paper can also be used with good results. Where suture loop storage compartments are formed by joining two sheets of material, the materials can be secured by adhesive or mechanical means such as glue, heat sealing or stapling. Where the package is constructed of plastic, it may be convenient to mold the suture storage compartments directly into the package.

Many different package constructions and methods for loading the sutures into the packages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, instead of using hooks to pull the suture bundle through the loop compartments as illustrated in Figure 5, rods can be used to push the bundle into the compartment from the upper end of the cylinders. Push rods are a preferred means for loading the suture bundle into pockets which are closed at one end as illustrated in Figure 1. Alternatively, the suture may be wound in a wave pattern as mentioned above about pins projecting through holes in the backing sheet of the package and a cover sheet subsequently placed over the loops and secured to the backing sheet along lines spaced between adjacent loops. Yet other variations in the package structure and method of preparation will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A multistrand suture package allowing individual suture delivery comprising a first panel, a plurality of sutures disposed on said panel as a bundle of substantially aligned strands in series of sequential open loops defining a sinusoidal wave pattern, as herein defined, extending across the width of said panel, and means for maintaining said sutures in said wave pattern on said panel with at least one end of the sutures being available for grasping whereby said sutures may be individually removed from the package.

2. A package of claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining said sutures in said loops comprises a second panel secured to said first panel along lines disposed between adjacent loops and parallel to said loops said first and second panels defining a series of adjacent compartments containing adjacent suture loops.

3. A package of claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining said sutures in said loops comprises a series of openings in said panel with adjacent suture loops being disposed through adjacent openings.

4. A package of claim 1 wherein said sutures have needles attached.

5. A package of claim 4 having a needle mounting panel extending from said first panel.

6. A package of claim 5 wherein said needle mounting panel is foldably attached to one edge of said first panel.

7. A package of claim 6 having a cover panel foldably attached to a second edge of said first panel.

8. A package of claim 1 having a cover

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 3 further illustrates package sleeve 31 which serves to maintain needle mounting panel 21 in a closed position when the package is inserted fully into the sleeve and also serves as a convenient label mounting surface. Figure 4 illustrates a variation in suture storage compartment design wherein suture loops 32 are maintained in a wave pattern as mentioned above on panel 33 by having individual loops passed through openings 34 and 35. Figure 5 illustrates one method for loading a bundle of sutures into a suture storage compartment which comprises a series of open cylinders. In accordance with this method, suture bundle 11 is placed along the upper edge of panel 14 above cylinders 15 so that one end of the suture bundle extends beyond the side edge of panel 14 a short distance approximately equal to the length of the suture loops. Wire hooks 36 are then inserted through cylinders 15 to engage the suture bundle 11 with hook means 37. Beginning with the outermost hook engaging the suture bundle near the end extending only a short distance beyond the edge of panel 14, consecutive hooks are successively withdrawn through the respective cylinders, causing the suture bundle to be drawn into each cylinder. As each successive hook is withdrawn, the suture bundle 11 is drawn across the top of the empty cylinders and down into the cylinder being loaded until as the last hook is withdrawn the suture bundle 11 is completely contained within the series of cylinders 15, in a wave pattern as mentioned above, with at least one end of the suture bundle extending from an end storage compartment. The suture packags of the present invention are characterized by a suture storage compartment section wherein a bundle of sutures is contained in a series of loops defining a wave pattern as mentioned above. The abovedescribed figures illustrates preferred means by which the suture bundle may be obtained and maintained in the desired wave pattern. The sutures in the bundle may be needled or unneedled and, if needled, the package preferably includes needle mounting means associated with the suture storage compartment section. The suture packages of the present invention may be constructed of a heavyweight, relatively stiff paper or paperboard such as five point to twelve point solid bleached sulphate board. This paperboard is readily foldable and yet sufficiently strong and stiff to support the sutures and provide a relatively rigid package. Similarly foldable materials, including plastics, foils and laminates of these with each other or paper can also be used with good results. Where suture loop storage compartments are formed by joining two sheets of material, the materials can be secured by adhesive or mechanical means such as glue, heat sealing or stapling. Where the package is constructed of plastic, it may be convenient to mold the suture storage compartments directly into the package. Many different package constructions and methods for loading the sutures into the packages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, instead of using hooks to pull the suture bundle through the loop compartments as illustrated in Figure 5, rods can be used to push the bundle into the compartment from the upper end of the cylinders. Push rods are a preferred means for loading the suture bundle into pockets which are closed at one end as illustrated in Figure 1. Alternatively, the suture may be wound in a wave pattern as mentioned above about pins projecting through holes in the backing sheet of the package and a cover sheet subsequently placed over the loops and secured to the backing sheet along lines spaced between adjacent loops. Yet other variations in the package structure and method of preparation will be apparent to those skilled in the art. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A multistrand suture package allowing individual suture delivery comprising a first panel, a plurality of sutures disposed on said panel as a bundle of substantially aligned strands in series of sequential open loops defining a sinusoidal wave pattern, as herein defined, extending across the width of said panel, and means for maintaining said sutures in said wave pattern on said panel with at least one end of the sutures being available for grasping whereby said sutures may be individually removed from the package.

4. A package of claim 1 wherein said sutures have needles attached.

8. A package of claim 1 having a cover

panel foldably attached to one edge of said first panel.

9. A package of claim 1 having 8 sutures in said bundle.

10. A package of claim 2 wherein said first and second panels are comprised of paper or paperboard.

11. A multistrand suture package substantially as -de-scribed and shown in the acconi- panying drawings.