Ethicon, Gmbh

Cilag International Gmbh

Eric Hinrichs

Robert E Maurer

Michael Hamilton

Thomas Wilkes

S Neil Bar

Robert Maurer

Daniel J Smith

William C McJames

Jerry W Stametz

Thomas Nering

Surjit S Gill

Joseph W Rollero

The present invention provides novel medical devices for use in surgical procedures and methods for manufacturing novel medical devices. In some embodiments, the novel medical devices can include surgical needles that are capable of being repeatedly passed through tissue using minimal force. More particularly, the surgical needles can be manufactured with one or more coatings that provide the surgical needles with both durability and lubricity for ease of repeated and successive passes through tissue. Novel methods for manufacturing the surgical needles and for providing and applying coatings to the surgical needles are also provided.

Surgical needle coatings and methods

The present invention provides improved medical devices for use in surgical procedures and methods for manufacturing improved medical devices. In some embodiments, the improved medical devices can include improved surgical needles that are capable of being repeatedly passed through tissue using minimal force. More particularly, the improved surgical needles can be manufactured with two or more different coatings that provide the surgical needles with both durability and lubricity for ease of repeated and successive passes through tissue. Improved methods for manufacturing the surgical needles and for providing and applying coatings to the surgical needles are also provided.

A novel method of characterizing laser drilled boreholes is disclosed. The method uses x-ray microscopy for dimensional characterization. The x-ray output may be processed to control manufacturing equipment in automated production systems, including laser drilling systems and swaging apparatus.

X-ray microscopy for characterizing hole shape and dimensions in surgical needles

A surgical suture loop combination and a method of using the combination. The combination has a suture and a surgical needle. The ends of the suture are mounted to the surgical needle to form a suture loop. A pledget member is mounted to the suture loop. A replacement heart valve is mounted to a cardiac valve annulus using the suture loop combinations and surgical procedures of the present invention.

Surgical method for affixing a valve to a heart using a looped suture combination

A taper point surgical suture needle. The suture needle is an elongated member having a proximal suture mounting end and a distal piercing point. The elongated member has a first tapered region adjacent to the piercing point having a taper ratio of about 12:1. The member also has a second tapered region adjacent to the first tapered region having a taper ration of from about 6:1 to about 11:1. And, the member additionally has a third region adjacent to the second tapered region having a taper ratio of at least about 12:1.

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Bucks, PA, United States of America

Eric Hinrichs