A staple cartridge comprising absorbable staples having co-operate and/or antagonistic coatings is disclosed.

A method and apparatus of adaptively controlling a surgical stapling instrument are disclose. The method includes identifying a staple cartridge type, configuring the surgical stapling instrument based on the identified staple cartridge, and adaptively controlling, by a control circuit, operation/functionality of the surgical stapling instrument based on the configuration of the surgical stapling instrument loaded with the identified staple cartridge type. The apparatus includes a control circuit including a microcontroller and a memory coupled to the microcontroller. The memory stores machine executable instructions that when executed by the microcontroller cause the microcontroller to execute the above method.

Packaging assemblies for storing and shipping surgical staple cartridges containing bio-absorbable staples.

A product allows gaseous manufacturing by-products to be vented from the inside a sealed package tray. An exemplary method for packaging a device includes sealing the device inside a package tray with a gas-permeable sealing material, resulting in a sealed package tray. The sealing material allows volatile substances to vent from inside the sealed package tray to outside the sealed package tray.

A system for detecting disposal of metallic objects into an opening of a medical waste container, including: an indicator for indicating passage of metallic objects through the opening, a pair of receive coils and a transmit coil spaced therebetween shaped for receiving waste therethrough adjacent to the opening, and a controller in electrical communication with the coils. The controller generates and communicates a transmit signal to the transmit coil, which generates a magnetic field that induces voltage in each of the receive coils, which each generate a receive signal. The controller generates a waveform based on the receive signals with a baseline corresponding to absence of metallic objects, and analyzes the waveform with respect to opposite first and second thresholds. The controller activates the indicator in response to metallic objects passing through the coils when the waveform first exceeds the first threshold and then subsequently exceeds the second threshold.

A pen needle magazine (10) comprising a plurality of compartments (14) each carrying a pen needle (40) with an inner thread (44) and an outer thread (46), and an inner shield (80) including an inner thread (82), the inner shield (80) being disposed in each of the plurality of compartments (14), wherein the inner thread (82) of the inner shield (80) is configured to engage the outer thread (46) of the pen needle (40), and the inner thread (44) and the outer thread (46) of the pen needle (40) are threaded in different directions.

Systems, devices and methods to improve safety and efficiency in an operating room comprise providing a suture package that holds new suture needles and needle receptacles for storing used needles. The devices can be safely worn for the surgeon to self-dispense new suture needles in the near surgical field and to secure the used needles into a needle trap or a needle retainer located on his extremity, on his operative instruments or on the surgical drapes. The device may provide automated and/or simplified needle counting both during use and after removal from the surgical field. The device may be configured for ergonomic and efficient use so as to minimize the actions and motions of the surgeon to dispense and secure the needle.

A disposable pen needle, comprising a hub having a needle situated thereon having a patient end and a non-patient end, a removable patient end cap attached at the distal end of the hub, a removable non-patient end cap attached at the proximal end of the hub, wherein greater force is required to detach the patient end cap than is required to detach the non-patient end cap.

Device for folding an instrument tray into a packaging material, comprising a supporting surface for supporting the instrument tray during folding of the instrument tray into the packaging material, a first folding plate and a second folding plate, a movable folding aid for fixing the packaging material over a predefined line portion before and/or during the making of a fold, at least one movable clamp for gripping and moving the packaging material, a control unit for controlling the movement of the first folding plate between its respective first and second positions, the movement of the second folding plate between its respective first and second positions, the movement of the folding aid, and the movement and clamping and release of the at least one clamp.

This disclosure describes a device comprising: (a) a first component for providing a means for securing acupuncture needles that are disposed in bulk-style packaging when such bulk-style package is opened; and (b) a second component for providing a mounting and resting surface for the first component. The first component and the second component may be coupled together by a coupling mechanism disposed therebetween. The device may permit an acupuncture practitioner to remove an acupuncture needle from bulk packaging, without accidentally touching the shaft of an adjacent or another acupuncture needle contained within the same bulk packaging, or accidentally spilling needles in an open package while moving packaging around during treatment.