Howard L Scalzo

6841083, Jan 11, 2005

Jun 27, 2002

10/184043

Howard Scalzo - Kenilworth NJ, US
Margaret D'Aversa - Whitehouse Station NJ, US
Royce Frederick - South Bound Brook NJ, US

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

B01D 5322
B29B 1300
B29C 4700

216 91, 1341021, 134184

A device for scouring a coating from a fibrous material includes a tank for immersing a plurality of fibers in scouring solvent therein. The device also includes a bubbling device positioned therein and having a chamber formed between a base plate and a cover plate with a plurality of holes. The plurality of fibers is mounted within the tank above the cover plate and holes of the bubbling device, so that gas bubbles produced thereby move through the scouring solvent and through the plurality of fibers. The holes are arranged in a pattern on the cover plate that corresponds to a shape assumed by the plurality of fibers when mounted within the tank. A process for scouring a coating from a fibrous material is also disclosed and involves immersing a plurality of fibers in a scouring solvent and producing a plurality of gas bubbles that move through the solvent and the plurality of fibers. The process also involves arranging and mounting the plurality of fibers to assume a shape that corresponds to a pattern formed by the plurality of holes.

6881434, Apr 19, 2005

Jul 31, 2002

10/209202

Henry Pokropinski, Jr. - South River NJ, US
Howard Scalzo - Kenilworth NJ, US
Jerome A Fischer - Warren NJ, US

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

A61L017/00
A61L017/14
B05D003/00

427 231, 427307, 427357, 427412

A process for improving the knot tensile strength of a braided suture while maintaining its first throw holding characteristics includes the steps of applying a biocompatible co-polymer to the braided suture and then heating the suture to a temperature above the flow point of the co-polymer. An outer coat is applied to the suture after the heating step. The suture may be scoured with a solvent before the co-polymer is applied or the co-polymer may be applied simultaneously with the scouring step. The co-polymer preferably comprises one or more lactones, more preferably, ε-caprolactone and glycolide. This process may be used with bioabsorbable sutures, such as those comprising filaments made of polyglycolide and polylactide.

7513093, Apr 7, 2009

Dec 13, 2005

11/301365

Howard Scalzo - Kenilworth NJ, US
Jerome A. Fischer - Warren NJ, US
Stephen Rothenburger - Neshanic Station NJ, US
Robert Cerwin - Pipersville PA, US
James R. McDivitt - Flemington NJ, US

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

B65B 11/58
B65B 55/00

53449, 53425, 53167

A method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture comprising the steps of providing a containment compartment that is substantially free of an antimicrobial agent; positioning a suture within the containment compartment, said suture comprising one or more surfaces having an antimicrobial agent disposed thereon, said antimicrobial agent being selected from the group consisting of halogenated hydroxyl ethers, acyloxydiphenyl ethers, and combinations thereof; placing the containment compartment having the suture in an outer package; and subjecting the outer package, the containment compartment and the suture to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the suture to the containment compartment, while retaining an effective amount of said antimicrobial agent on the suture, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the suture and the containment compartment.

8112973, Feb 14, 2012

Jun 29, 2009

12/493992

Jerry Fischer - Warren NJ, US
Howard Scalzo - Kenilworth NJ, US
Henry Pokropinski, Jr. - South River NJ, US

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

B65B 55/22

53428, 53111 R, 53510

A method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture having improved shelf life. The method comprising the steps of providing an inner package having a source of antimicrobial agent, providing an adsorbent material effective to adsorb a portion of the antimicrobial agent over time, positioning a suture within the inner package, the suture comprising one or more surfaces, covering the inner package with an outer package having an inner surface and subjecting the suture, the inner package and the inner surface of the outer package to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the antimicrobial agent source to the suture and the inner package, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the suture and the inner package, wherein the packaged antimicrobial suture exhibits improved shelf life. A packaged antimicrobial suture and a method of increasing the shelf life of a packaged antimicrobial medical device are also provided.

8133437, Mar 13, 2012

Dec 13, 2005

11/301364

Howard Scalzo - Kenilworth NJ, US
Jerome A. Fischer - Warren NJ, US
Stephen Rothenburger - Neshanic Station NJ, US
Robert Cerwin - Pipersville PA, US
James R. McDivitt - Flemington NJ, US

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

A61L 9/00
A61L 2/00
A61L 2/18
A61L 2/20
B01J 7/00
B65B 11/58
A61B 17/06
A61L 17/00

422 29, 422 28, 422 33, 422292, 422294, 422305, 53449, 206 633, 606228

A method for making an antimicrobial suture comprising the steps of positioning an antimicrobial agent source within a package comprising an inner surface, said antimicrobial agent being selected from the group consisting of halogenated hydroxyl ethers, acyloxydiphenyl ethers, and combinations thereof; positioning a medical device within the package; and subjecting the package, the antimicrobial agent source and the medical device to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the antimicrobial agent source to the medical device, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the medical device. Alternatively, the packaged medical device is produced according to the steps of positioning a medical device within a package; exposing the package having the medical device to an antimicrobial agent source; and subjecting the package having the medical device and the antimicrobial agent source to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the antimicrobial agent source to the medical device within the package, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the medical device.

8156718, Apr 17, 2012

Apr 2, 2009

12/417518

Howard Scalzo - Kenilworth NJ, US
Jerome A. Fischer - Warren NJ, US
Stephen Rothenburger - Neshanic Station NJ, US
Robert Cerwin - Pipersville PA, US
James R. McDivitt - Flemington NJ, US

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

B65B 55/02

53425, 53449, 206 633, 606228

A method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture comprising the steps of providing a containment compartment that is substantially free of an antimicrobial agent; positioning a suture within the containment compartment, said suture comprising one or more surfaces having an antimicrobial agent disposed thereon, said antimicrobial agent being selected from the group consisting of halogenated hydroxyl ethers, acyloxydiphenyl ethers, and combinations thereof; placing the containment compartment having the suture in an outer package; and subjecting the outer package, the containment compartment and the suture to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the suture to the containment compartment, while retaining an effective amount of said antimicrobial agent on the suture, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the suture and the containment compartment.

20010018599, Aug 30, 2001

Mar 7, 2001

09/801035

Margaret D'Aversa - Whitehouse Station NJ, US
Howard Scalzo - Kenilworth NJ, US
Dennis Jamiolkowski - Long Valley NJ, US
Rao Bezwada - Whitehouse Station NJ, US
Donald Hill - Hopatcong NJ, US
Alastair Hunter - Bridgewater NJ, US

A61L017/00

606/228000

The present invention discloses a process for producing a braided suture having an improved knot strength comprising heating a braided suture coated with a low molecular weight biocompatible polymer to a temperature sufficient to melt the low molecular weight biocompatible polymer for a time sufficient to allow the low molecular polymer to be redistributed into the interstices of the braided suture thereby providing a coated braided suture with an improved knot tensile strength. Also disclosed is the coated braided suture having a low molecular weight polymer optimally dispersed throughout the braided suture's cross-section.

20040068293, Apr 8, 2004

Feb 15, 2003

10/367497

Howard Scalzo - Kenilworth NJ, US
Jerome Fischer - Warren NJ, US
James McDivitt - Flemington NJ, US
Stephen Rothenburger - Phillipsburg NJ, US
Robert Cerwin - Pipersville PA, US

A61B017/04

606/228000

An antimicrobial suture assembly comprising a containment compartment comprising one or more surfaces having an antimicrobial agent disposed thereon, said antimicrobial agent being selected from the group consisting of halogenated hydroxyl ethers, acyloxydiphenyl ethers, and combinations thereof, in an amount sufficient to substantially inhibit bacterial colonization on said containment compartment; and a suture positioned within the containment compartment, the suture comprising one or more surfaces having an antimicrobial agent disposed thereon, said antimicrobial agent being selected from the group consisting of halogenated hydroxyl ethers, acyloxydiphenyl ethers, and combinations thereof, in an amount sufficient to substantially inhibit bacterial colonization on the suture; and a method for making.