Patent GB-1118819-A (GB)
Title: Molded suture package
IPC: A61B17/06
Filed: 1965-12-02
Abstract: 1,118,819. Suture containers. ETHICON Inc. 2 Dec.. 1965 [7 Dec., 1964], No. 51220/65. Heading A5R. [Also in Division B8] In a suture package, a bundle of sutures is located in a coiled channel formed in a moulded sheet 25. Figs. 1 and 2, the channel being closed by a cover sheet 26 which is sealed to the moulded sheet along the edges of the channel to form a closed passageway 31. In one embodiment, one end of the passageway terminates in an access chamber 37 and the other in a vacuum well 38, both situated in a loading and dispensing section 36. Intially the cover sheet 26 is sealed to the sheet 25 up to a line (A-A), Fig. 3 (not shown), to form the passageway 31, leaving the section 36 unsealed. A bundle (43) of sutures 42 is then inserted into the chamber 37 and drawn through the passageway by vacuum applied at the well 38, Fig. 5 (not shown). The section 36 is then sealed down to form an openable seal. To aid the separation of the sheets in this area, a depressed area (46) Fig. 7 (not shown), is moulded into the sheet 25, so that with a notch (47), Fig. 8 (not shown), cut out in manufacture, a free strioping flap (45) results. In a modification, both sheets 25, 26 have corresponding channels moulded in them, Figs. 16. 17 (not shown), the two package sections being formed from a single sheet, folded at (65). or from two sheets. In a further modification. one or more access chambers (52) Figs. 9, 11 (not shown), each shaped to accommodate a needle (51) may be provided. In another modification of the first embodiment Figs. 12, 13 (not shown), the access chamber and vacuum well are reduced in size, the loading and dispensing section 36 being sealed in the area (54) and an access portion (53) and stripping flaps (55) being left unsealed. In another embodiment, a liquid chamber (72). Figs. 19-21 (not shown), communicating with the passageway 31 by channels (73) may be provided. In this embodiment the sheets are first sealed together in the area between (A-A) and (C-C) and the sutures drawn through the passageway 31 by vacuum as before. After which a suture pliabilizing or sterilizing fluid is deposited in the chamber (72) and the two unsealed portions sealed down. Alternatively. a mass of absorbent material, e.g. cellulose sponge, may be placed in this chamber, the sponge being saturated before or after it is placed in the chamber. In another embodiment, Figs. 14. 15 (not shown), a rib (56) is provided across the access chamber (37) so that, when the package is opened. both the sheets 25, 26 can be bent back and/or torn off along this rib. The unsealed stripping flap portion (61) is also provided with ribs (63) for gripping purposes, the moulded sheet being die cut longitudinally through the outside rib in order to provide a raised lip (64) to facilitate the separating of the flaps (61), (62). In a final embodiment, Fig. 18 (not shown), the vacuum end of the passageway 31 terminates in a well (66) located in the centre of the package. vacuum being applied to the well through a hole (69) in the cover sheet. The moulded sheet is preferably made of a transparent plastics material, e.g. vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, vinyl acetate butyrate, styrene, polypropylene, or linear polypropylene. The covering sheet is preferably made of aluminium foil coated with an inner heat sealing layer, e.g. a vinyl material, and an outer protective layer e.g. a polyester film. To provide non-slip means for the cover sheet, an additional layer comprising a dispersion of silica particles in a polyester base, may be laminated to the protective layer.