ETHICON PRODUCT CATALOG

Needle Silhouette
Needle Silhouettes are shown in ACTUAL SIZE. The designated number above the needle, within the Needle Section, is the actual length measured in millimeters.

Code
Product codes ending in suffix G are packaged dozen packets to a box. Product codes ending in suffix H are packaged 3 dozen to a box. Product codes ending in suffix T are packaged 2 dozen packets to a box. In the few instances where no alphabetic suffix is in the product code, the number of packets per box is identified by a footnote. The number of strands per Multi-Strand packet appears on the left of suture length.

Needle Length
Needle length is the actual length measured in millimeters. Needle lengths can be found within the Needle Section and throughout the catalog to the right of the needle code. As a user you will find that many of these needle lengths have been rounded off. Recognize that the needles are not changing, but for consistency ETHICON has applied a rounding convention to all needle lengths. Due to timing differences, the box and label dimensions may not match the catalog exactly, but will be updated accordingly in the near future.

circle and straight — with taper, cutting, blunt points or TAPERCUT* Surgical Needle tips.

In general, the same size of needle may be made from finer gauge wire for use in soft or delicate tissues and from heavier gauge wire for use in tough or fibrosed tissues (the surgeon’s choice).

6. Ribbed needles — longitudinal ribs are provided on many ATRALOC Needles to increase the stability of the needle in the needleholder.
7. The attachment of the needle to the suture material must be secure so that the needle will not separate from the suture material under normal use. An exception is the CONTROL RELEASE Needle suture principle, which facilitates fast separation of needle from suture when desirable.

The combination of these attributes is ETHICON MULTIPASS Needle Technology.

MULTIPASS Needles are the highest performing needles that ETHICON Products offers; a combination [or a balance] of three proprietary technologies ensure excellent strength, tissue penetration and control; pass after pass.

2. The needle is released with a straight tug of the needleholder.

7. Do not take excessively large bites of tissue with small needles.
   
   
   
   
8. Do not force or twist the needle in an effort to bring the point out through the tissue – withdraw the needle and replace tissue.
9. Do not force a dull needle through tissue – obtain a new one.
10. Avoid using the needle to bridge or approximate tissues for suturing.
11. If the needle is held too tightly in a sharp or hard jawed or defective needleholder, the needle may be damaged or notched in such a manner that it will have more of a tendency to bend or break on successive passes through tissue.
    
    
    
    
12. When the needle holder with needle is passed to the surgeon, the needle should be pointing in the right direction in which it will start to be used without need for readjustments.
13. In some patients, the tissues may be tougher or fibrosed more than normal and require the use of a heavier gauge needle.
14. In deep confined area, ideal positioning of the needle may not be possible. The surgeon should proceed with caution or use a heavier gauge needle

An ATRALOC Needle is an instrument that complements the surgeon’s skills. The variety of ETHICON needles offers the surgeon a choice of needles which are dependable for consistent quality and for practically all surgical applications.

The ETHICON process controls the orientation of the micrograins so that ductility and strength are closely controlled – for strong needles that start sharp, and stay sharp, thus assuring easy passage through tissue.

Super-Smooth
Virtually all ATRALOC Needles have a micro-thin Super-Smooth finish that permits the needle to penetrate and pass through the toughest tissue with an almost fluid-like flow, with minimal resistance and virtually no drag, giving the surgeon a feeling of control.

Needle Swaging
Needles are permanently attached to the suture materials, eliminating the need for threading and providing a new, sharp needle each time. ATRALOC Needle swaging gives the surgeon a needle with an unbroken surface from end to end;without double strands, it draws through tissue easier and with less tissue trauma.

Ribbed for Security and Control
Longitudinal ribbing on the inside and outside curvatures of most needles has a cross-locking action in the needleholder, minimizing turning, rocking or twisting and thus providing unsurpassed needle control.