Early Suture Products

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Sterile sutures were another of the earliest products of Johnson & Johnson.  These are some examples of early sterile sutures made by the Company, and include catgut, which was an absorbable suture, and silk sutures. 

Johnson & Johnson worked diligently to improve sterilization methods and make a variety of sterile sutures available. Many physicians at the time used ordinary sewing thread to close wounds, so the Company’s sterile sutures were a welcome innovation for doctors and patients.  An interesting sidelight of the Company’s suture business is dental floss, which was originally made from leftover suture silk.

This post was written by Margaret

Published in: Beginnings, Early Products | on July 13th, 2006 | 2 Comments »

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2 Comments Leave a comment.

  1. On July 5, 2010 at 5:29 am Talana Walls Said:

    I have found several glass vials of sterile sutures , is there a market for these items ?

  2. On July 6, 2010 at 9:51 am Margaret Said:

    Hi Talana,

    Where did you find them? You didn’t mention in your comment how old the glass vials of sutures were, but I am assuming that, since you’re asking your question here, that they are historic early Johnson & Johnson suture products and they have no other use than just as a vintage collectible. I can’t comment on any monetary value for the historic sutures, but I do know that many medical professionals collect things like that, so your best bet would be to check online auction sites like eBay or other online sites dealing with collectibles related to the history of health care.

    Best Regards,

    Margaret

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