Surgical suture abstract
This invention relates to a direct dispensing and self-contained
surgical suture package. The package can comprise a first part having
a strippable envelope, and a second part self-contained therein.
Surgical suture claims
I claim:
1. A direct dispensing and self-contained surgical suture package
comprising a first part having a strippable envelope, and self-contained
therein a second part containing a suture and confined with:
a back panel whose perimeter comprises a first top edge, a right
and left side edge, and a bottom edge;
a strand flap foldably connected to the bottom edge; and
two opposite side flaps foldably connected to the right and left
side edges respectively, the improvement comprising:
a label flap foldably connected to the entire first top edge, the
label flap perimeter having a second top edge which is substantially
parallel to and above the first top edge; and a chevron flap foldably
connected to but distinct from the entire second top edge, the second
part configured so that the strand flap is folded onto the back
panel, the two opposite side flaps are folded onto said strand flap,
the label flap is folded onto said side flaps, and the chevron flap
is inserted between said side flaps and said strand flap.
2. A package of claim 1 having at least one retention slit contained
in at least one of said side flaps.
Surgical suture description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a direct dispensing and self-contained
surgical suture package. The package can comprise a first part having
a strippable envelope, and a second part self-contained therein.
A direct dispensing and self-contained surgical suture package
has been invented. In one embodiment, the package comprises a back
panel; at least one side flap foldably connected to the back panel;
a label flap foldably connected to the back panel and adjacent to
the at least one side flap; and means for self-containing the direct
dispensing surgical suture package. In a specific embodiment, the
package comprises two opposite side flaps. In another embodiment,
the package has a strand flap foldably connected to the back panel
and opposite the label flap. In still another embodiment, the package
has at least one retention slip contained in the at least one side
flap.
In a more specific embodiment, the package comprises a back panel;
two opposite side flaps foldably connected to the back panel; a
label flap foldably connected to the back panel and adjacent to
the side flaps; and means for attaching the label flap to the flaps.
In one embodiment, the package has a strand flap foldably connected
to the back panel and opposite the label flap. In another embodiment,
the package has at least one retention slit contained in at least
one side flap.
Another direct dispensing and self-contained surgical suture package
has been invented. In this embodiment, the package comprises a first
and second part. The first part has a strippable envelope. Self-contained
within the first part is the second part. The second part has a
back panel; at least one side flap foldably connected to the pack
panel; a label flap foldably connected to the back panel and adjacent
to the at least one side flap; and a chevron flap foldably connected
to the label flap and opposite the back panel. The at least one
side flap is folded onto the back panel, the label flap is at least
partially folded onto the side flap and the chevron flap is inserted
between the side flap and back panel. In a specific embodiment,
the package has two opposite side flaps. In another specific embodiment,
the package has a strand flap foldably connected to the back panel
and opposite the label flap. In a further embodiment, the package
has at least one retention slit contained in the at least one side
flap.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 to 6 show the folding sequence of the suture package of
this invention.
FIG. 1 is a front view of an unfolded suture label with six panels;
FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1 showing the strand cover panel
1 folded onto back panel 2;
FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 2 showing the front panel 3 and
tuck panel 6 folded onto the back panel 2;
FIG. 4 is a back view of FIG. 3 inverted one hundred and eighty
degrees and showing the side panels 4 and 5 folded onto the strand
cover panel 1;
FIG. 5 is a back view showing the front panel 3 and tuck panel
6 of FIG. 4 rotated three hundred and sixty degrees, and then folded
onto the side panels 4 and 5;
FIG. 6 is a back view of FIG. 5 showing the panel 6 tucked between
the side panels 4 and 5 and the strand cover flap 1; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the preferred loading of the
suture package of FIG. 6 into a strippable envelope.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The suture label is and remains, before, during, and after suture
dispensing, a single piece. The needle of the suture is visible
within the label for easy access and removal of the suture from
the label. The exposed needle is grasped with the hand or with a
needle holder and by pulling gently and evenly, the suture is dispensed.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6 the label is designed to protect
the suture strand from being in contact with the needle, therefore
preventing the suture strand from being damaged. The needle holding
slit(s) 7 located in the side panel 4 can be used to hold either
needled or non-needled sutures.
Referring to FIG. 1 the label is manufactured from sterilizable
90 pound offset paper capable of withstanding alcoholic solution,
heat, steam, gas or radiation sterilization without adverse affects.
The paper may be coated with about 1/2 mil polyethylene so as to
make it heat sealable. Such paper is known in the trade, and is
readily available. Sealing, if desired, can be accomplished by heat
sealing dies, or by ultrasonic means.
Referring to FIG. 6 the self-contained label can be placed into
a strippable envelope. The envelope materials, the methods of manufacturing
such materials, and the method of loading the label into the envelope
are well known in the suture packaging art, e.g. as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 4069912 FIG. 1 entitled "Suture Package",
issued Jan. 24 1978 to S. Black and D.C. MacRitchie, or U.S. Pat.
No. 4063638 FIG. 1 entitled "Direct Dispensing Packaging
of Surgical Sutures", issued Dec. 20 1977 to R.K. Marwood.
These patents are incorporated by reference. Referring to FIG. 1
of these patents, the strippable envelope 31 is peeled off. The
peeling or stripping action is enhanced by the size and shape of
the folded label in relation to the envelope 31.
Referring again to FIG. 6 of this invention, the suture label is
self-contained. Also, after the suture is dispensed from the label,
the label continues to be self-contained and in one piece. Therefore,
only the surgical suture needle and/or strand(s), and the self-contained
suture label are added to the operating area. Related hazards are
thus minimized and accountability is simplified.
FIG. 1 shows a preferred suture label. The label is cut out and
scored from a sheet of sterilizable paper which may be coated with
polyethylene for heat sealing.
As shown in FIG. 1 to 4 the label consists of a back panel 2.
Attached to the back panel is a strand cover panel 1 label cover
or front panel 3 tuck panel 6 and side flaps 4 and 5. A retention
slit or slits 7 located on the side panel 4 can anchor a needle
of an appropriate size and shape in the desired orientation and
position between the strand cover flap 1 and the side flaps 4 and
5. For a straight needle of sufficient length, another retention
slit or slits 8 located on the other side panel 5 can be used to
anchor the pointed end. For a curved needle, the desired orientation
is usually such that the arc of travel from the barrel to the point
is in a counter clockwise direction. The barrel of the needle protrudes
through the retention slit on the panel 4 which is exposed through
the round cutout in the panel 3 (shown in FIG. 6) for direct dispensing
by hand or by needle holders. Alternatively, the retention slit
or slits 7 can be used for a non-needled suture (or sutures).
Referring to FIG. 4 the side panels 4 and are folded onto strand
cover panel 1 for the purpose of loading the suture strand (or strands)
into the label. In this configuration, the suture strand(s) are
loaded into the label between the strand cover panel 1 and back
panel 2. The configuration of the strand(s) in the label can be
any series of loops or coils that allow the strand(s) to dispense
freely from the label without tangling. A preferred strand configuration
is that termed a FIG. eight. The loading of a suture strand into
a label using the figure eight configuration is known in the prior
art.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 the front panel 3 is rotated and then
folded onto the side panels 4 and 5. Referring to FIG. 6 the tuck
panel 6 is tucked between the side panels 4 and 5 and the strand
cover flap 1. In this configuration, the suture package is and remains
self-contained and as one piece before, during and after dispensing
of the suture.
FIG. 6 shows the label completely assembled, with the tuck panel
6 inserted (tucked) between the side panels 4 and 5 and the strand
cover panel 1.
FIG. 7 describes the loading of the self-contained, one piece suture
package of FIG. 6 into a strippable envelope 10. The loading of
the suture package shown in FIG. 6 into the envelope 10 is known
in the prior art, e.g. see the U.S. patents cited above, which are
incorporated by reference. |