to enclose the passageway and at least one needle holding park integrally formed with the molded base panel and extending through at least one opening formed in the cover sheet the needle holding park defines a groove dimensioned and configured to receive a suture needle and frictionally engage the outer surfaces of the needle to secure the needle to the retainer application_number US 13732593 A description referring initially to fig1 there is illustrated in perspective view the suture retainer 20 constructed according to the present invention retainer 20 is similar to the retainer disclosed in u s pat no 5 154 283 to brown the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference retainer 20 is particularly adapted to accommodate a double or triple folded suture in a suture compartment defined by the retainer and to retain a needle attached to the suture in a readily accessible position adjacent the retainer referring now to fig1 3 retainer 20 includes base panel 22 having passageway 24 formed therein for accommodating suture a in a coiled configuration and a cover sheet 26 for enclosing the passageway passageway 24 is characterized in that it possesses a minimal number of convolutions the passageway 24 follows a generally oval pattern commencing at peripheral suture receiving section 28 and spiraling toward the proximate center through several turns while terminating at a central vacuum receiving section 30 base panel 22.