Method and apparatus for removing sutures from a suture package

Abstract

In a method of removing sutures from a suture package, a suture package is retained in a suture package retainer. The retainer includes a housing having an opening at the top, such as defined in a cover, through which sutures may be accessed. A suture package support located in the housing 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 while the suture package is securely restrained. In one embodiment, the suture package retainer is reusable and includes a single use cover and support.

1 . In combination, a suture package retention device and one or more suture packages comprising:
 a housing having a top and a bottom, at least one wall extending upwardly from said bottom, and an interior space in which one or more of said suture packages may be located, said interior space having a periphery defined by said at least one wall;   a single-use cover located at said top of said housing, said cover comprising at least one tab configured to retain said cover to said housing when said cover is connected thereto a first time, said at least one tab configured to break when said cover is removed from said housing such that said at least one tab does not permit said cover to be connected securely to said housing a second time, said cover having a top and a bottom, said cover having an opening therein and a continuous closed periphery around said opening, said periphery around said opening extending inwardly of said periphery of said interior space of said housing at said top of said housing, said cover mounted to said housing so that said cover will not move upwardly from said housing during use of said device;   at least one spring located in said housing;   a single-use suture package support mounted to said at least one spring so as to be located in said interior space and biased upwardly towards said top of said housing; and   at least one suture package located in said interior space between said suture package support and said cover, said at least one suture package comprising a tray having one or more sutures connected thereto, said suture package support biasing said at least one suture package upwardly towards said top of said housing such that a top-most of said suture packages is positioned against said bottom of said cover and whereby sutures associated with said top-most suture package are accessible through said opening in said cover, with a portion of said cover at said periphery around said opening in said cover engaging an outer portion of said top-most suture package, retaining said top-most suture package in a fixed position when a force is applied to remove one or said sutures from said top-most suture package, permitting a user to disassociate a suture from said top-most suture package.   
   
   
       2 . The combination in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said housing is constructed from stainless steel and said cover and suture package support are constructed from plastic. 
   
   
       3 . The combination in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising at least one viewing slot in said housing. 
   
   
       4 . The combination in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a used suture mount extending outwardly from said cover. 
   
   
       5 . The combination in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said suture mount is located in a plane offset from said cover. 
   
   
       6 . The combination in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said housing comprises a slot therein corresponding to each tab for connection of said cover to said housing. 
   
   
       7 . A suture package retention device configured to retain at least one suture package having one or more sutures connected thereto comprising:
 a housing having a top and a bottom, at least one wall extending upwardly from said bottom, and an interior space in which at least one suture package may be located, said interior space having a periphery defined by said at least one wall;   a single-use cover located at said top of said housing, said cover comprising at least one mount configured to retain said cover to said housing when said cover is connected thereto a first time, said at least one mount configured to prevent said cover from being securely connected to said housing a second time after said cover is removed after said first time, said cover having a top and a bottom, said cover having an opening therein and a periphery around said opening, at least a portion of said periphery around said opening extending inwardly of said periphery of said interior space of said housing at said top of said housing;   at least one spring located in said housing; and   a single-use suture package support removably mounted to said at least one spring so as to be located in said interior space and biased upwardly towards said top of said housing; whereby at least one suture package located in said interior space between said suture package support and said cover is biased by said suture package support upwardly towards said top of said housing such that a top-most of said suture packages is positioned against said bottom of said cover and whereby sutures associated with said top-most suture package are accessible through said opening in said cover, with a portion of said cover at said periphery around said opening in said cover engaging an outer portion of said top-most suture package, retaining said top-most suture package in a fixed position when a force is applied to remove one or said sutures from said top-most suture package, permitting a user to disassociate a suture from said top-most suture package.   
   
   
       8 . The suture package retention device in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said at least one mount comprises at least one tab extending inwardly from said cover. 
   
   
       9 . The suture package retention device in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said housing is constructed of sterilizeable steel and said cover and suture package support are constructed from plastic. 
   
   
       10 . The suture package retention device in accordance with  claim 7  further comprising a generally planar mount extending from said cover outwardly of said housing. 
   
   
       11 . The suture package retention device in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said mount extends in a plane offset from a plane containing said cover.