Suture dispenser

Abstract

A suture dispenser has a housing having a bottom, at least one wall extending upwardly from the bottom and a top located generally opposite the bottom. The housing defines a generally enclosed interior space for housing at least one suture package having an associate suture, at least one window through which sutures may be accessed, and a suture package support located in the interior space which is biased upwardly towards the top of the housing so that a top-most suture package is located adjacent the opening, whereby a user may remove a suture associated with the top-most suture package through the opening. In one embodiment, the housing is rotatably mounted to a stand. The housing may include a slot through which suture packages may be inserted into or removed from the interior space.

1 . A suture dispenser comprising: 
 a housing having a bottom, at least one wall extending upwardly from said bottom, a top located generally opposite said bottom, said housing defining a generally enclosed interior space for housing at least one suture package having an associate suture, at least one window located in said top, a suture package support located in said interior space, said suture package support biased upwardly towards said top of said housing whereby a top-most suture package is located adjacent said opening, whereby a user may remove a suture associated with said top-most suture package through said opening.    
   
   
       2 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said top of said housing is defined by a cover, said cover having an opening and a continuous periphery around said opening, said cover connected to said at least one wall of said housing.  
   
   
       3 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  where said suture package support comprises a plate.  
   
   
       4 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  including at least one spring located between said bottom of said housing and said suture package support.  
   
   
       5 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said interior space has a first peripheral dimension and said opening has a second peripheral dimension which is smaller than said first peripheral dimension.  
   
   
       6 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 5  wherein a portion of said top extends over said interior area defined by said housing.  
   
   
       7 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said housing defines at least one slot leading to said interior area through which a suture package may be inserted into or removed from said interior area.  
   
   
       8 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said cover is selectively connectable to said at least one wall with one or more threaded fasteners.  
   
   
       9 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  including a stand, said housing mounted to said stand.  
   
   
       10 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said housing is rotatably connected to said stand whereby a position of said housing may be changed relative to said stand.  
   
   
       11 . A suture dispenser configured to house at least one suture tray having at least one associated suture, comprising: 
 a housing comprising a cover and a base, said base having a bottom and a wall extending upwardly from said bottom to said cover, said housing defining an interior space, said cover defining at least one opening providing access to at least one suture tray located in said interior space defined by said housing;    means for biasing said at least one suture tray upwardly in said housing towards said cover; and    a stand, said stand having a bottom for supporting said suture dispenser upon a support surface, said housing mounted to said stand.    
   
   
       12 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said wall has first and second opposing sides extending parallel to one another and third and fourth opposing sides extending parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to said first and second sides.  
   
   
       13 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of said wall does not extend to said cover, whereby a slot is formed between a top of said portion of said wall and said cover, said slot leading to said interior space defined by said housing.  
   
   
       14 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said means for biasing comprises at least one plate located in said interior space and an least one spring engaging said at least one plate.  
   
   
       15 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said cover is movable relative to said base of said housing.  
   
   
       16 . The suture dispenser in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said housing is rotatably connected to said stand.  
   
   
       17 . A method of dispensing sutures comprising: 
 locating at least one package having at least one associated suture in an interior of a housing of a suture dispenser;    biasing said at least one package upwardly towards an opening in said housing of said suture dispenser;    grasping a needle of a suture associated with said at least one package through said opening of said housing of said suture dispenser; and    applying a removing force to said needle and associated suture to disassociate said need and suture from said at least one package, said at least one package restrained by said housing.    
   
   
       18 . The method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said locating step comprises removing a cover of said housing and inserting said at least one package within said housing.  
   
   
       19 . The method in accordance with  claim 17  including the step of removing a used package from said housing.