United States Surgical Corporation

Francis D Colligan

George R Proto

Ronald H Belcourt, Jr

Harold Bellmore, Jr

Harold J Bellmore

Joseph E Kus

Giuseppe Giordano

Donald C Ross

Richard P Carpentiere

Stephan A DeFonzo

Dragomir C Marinkovich

Lloyd S Brown

Harold Jr Bellmore

An apparatus for attaching a surgical needle of the type having an end portion with an elongated aperture defined therein and a suture having a generally elongated end portion which is to be positioned in the elongated aperture of the needle includes a pair of dies, each die having at least two generally planar engaging surfaces with a recessed portion disposed between adjacent engaging surfaces. The engaging surfaces of the dies each define a plane which is in general parallel relation to a longitudinal axis of the respective die. The recessed portion defines a relief zone such that when the end portion of the suture is positioned within the aperture of the needle end and the dies are positioned about the end portion of the needle with the engaging surfaces of each die generally facing the outer surface thereof, applying inward crimping force to the dies causes the dies to produce inward crimping forces on opposed sides of the needle end portion to cause a reduction of the dimension of the elongated aperture of the needle to thereby attach the needle to the suture whereby the recessed portion receives and collects deformed material from the needle. Secondary recessed portions may be provided to accumulate deformed needle material outward of the engaging surfaces. Side walls are provided on the die to receive the other die therebetween during crimping and constrain outward deformation of the needle. A method for attaching a surgical suture to a needle is also disclosed.

Apparatus and method for attaching surgical needle suture components

A method and apparatus for tipping, cutting, and sorting sutures includes a suture supply, a tipping station wherein delimited portions of the suture are tipped, preferably with a cyanoacrylate tipping agent, a diameter measuring station, a cutting station wherein a knife is operated to cut the suture at a tipped portion to form cut suture lengths having tipped suture ends for insertion into the barrel end aperture of a surgical needle, and a pair of graspers for alternatively grasping and drawing the suture from the suture supply through the tipping apparatus, the diameter measuring station and the cutting station. Optionally, a drying station can be interposed to hasten the curing of the tipping agent. Preferably, a controller is provided for controlling the sequence of operation of the apparatus and for controlling sorting of cut suture lengths deposited by the graspers onto a tilting sorting table.

Method and apparatus for tipping, cutting, and sorting sutures

A suture package is provided having a body portion defining an inner cavity and a cover plate affixed to the body for retention of a coiled length of suture therebetween and having an exit area configured to prevent kinking of the coils of suture upon removal of the suture from the package. A loading unit for use with a surgical suturing apparatus is provided having a body portion defining an inner cavity, a cover plate affixed to the body portion for retention of a coiled length of suture therebetween and having an exit area configured to prevent kinking of the coils of the suture upon removal, and a mounting member positioned on the body portion and configured to releasably hold a surgical needle.

Suture retainer

A method for attaching a multifilament suture having a sheath and core structure to a surgical incision member includes removing a length of core material from an end portion of the suture, and inserting the coreless sheath into the surgical incision member aperture. The coreless sheath of the end portion may optionally be tipped prior to insertion into the surgical incision member.

Braided suture surgical incision member attachment

A delimited portion of suture material is immersed into a freezing media, such as liquid nitrogen, until the delimited portion is frozen. The frozen delimited portion is cut to provide a stiffened, non-brooming suture tip suitable for insertion into a needle bore. The cut, frozen suture tip is inserted into a needle and the needle is crimped to attach the suture to the needle. After attachment, the frozen suture tip returns to ambient temperature, reversing the effects of freezing the suture portion so that the suture adjacent the needle is as flexible as the remainder of the suture.

Method and appartaus for treating a portion of a suture and forming a

A method and apparatus for attaching sutures to curved surgical needles. A vibratory bowl and vibratory rail function to present individual surgical needles to a transfer system in a predetermined orientation. The transfer system then delivers each oriented needle to a frame which positions the needle for subsequent swaging by a rotating die system which selectively impacts the needle to secure the suture thereto.

Method and apparatus for attaching surgical suture components

An apparatus is disclosed for attaching a surgical needle having a generally cylindrical end portion defining an elongated aperture having a generally circular cross-section and a suture having a generally elongated end portion of generally circular cross-section corresponding in dimension to the elongated aperture of the needle. The apparatus includes a pair of dies, each having a die face with an inner die surface portion. The inner die surface portion includes at least one generally planar crimping surface having an arcuate recess formed therein which extends along at least a portion of the planar crimping surface. The arcuate recess defines a material relief zone such that when the end portion of the suture is positioned within the aperture of the needle and the dies are positioned about the generally cylindrical end portion of the needle with the crimping surfaces generally facing the outer surface thereof, the application of an inward crimping force to the dies causes the dies to impact the needle and produce inward crimping forces on opposed sides of the needle end portion to attach the needle to the suture. The relief zones defined by the arcuate recesses receive and collect deformed material from the needle. According to the invention, the symmetry of the needle is maintained and the attachment is predictable and superior to those of the prior art.

Surgical needle-suture attachment for controlled suture release

A multifilament surgical suture has an end portion tipped with cyanoacrylate resin. The suture can also include filling agents and lubricants which are incorporated into the suture prior to the suture being tipped. A typical filling agent is glycerol. A typical lubricant includes a copolymer of glycolide and lactide. Tipping is accomplished by passing a portion of the suture through a mist of monomeric cyanoacrylate resin and allowing the resin to harden by curing. The tipped portion may then be cut to create a tipped end for insertion into a surgical needle.

Tipped multifilament surgical suture

Loading mechanism for a surgical suturing instrument

Method and apparatus for treating a portion of a suture and forming a

A method for producing a detachable surgical needle-suture combination of the type incorporating a fluid swellable suture material is capable of producing needle-suture attachments which conform to the prescribed minimum pull-out forces for detachable needle-suture combinations as set forth in the U.S. Pharmacopeia. Generally, the method includes the steps of providing a surgical needle and a fluid swellable suture, immersing an end portion of the suture into a liquid solution whereby the suture end portion swells and assumes an expanded condition, positioning the suture end portion in its expanded condition into an aperture formed in the blunt end of the needle and swaging the blunt end of the needle to cause deformation of at least a portion of the blunt end and engagement with the suture end portion to effect needle-suture attachment.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching surgical sutures to eyeless surgical needles. The apparatus includes a frame for positioning and maintaining the needle while the suture is being attached and a rotating die system which selectively impacts the needle to secure the suture thereto.

Apparatus for attaching surgical suture components

An apparatus for tipping surgical sutures includes a drum around which the suture is wound. The drum is placed on a carriage which moves the drum into a chamber wherein selected portions of the suture are passed through a mist of cyanoacrylate tipping agent generated by ultrasonic atomization. The tipping agent quickly cures and the tipped portion of the suture may be cut to create a tipped end for insertion into a surgical needle to form a needle-suture device.

Method and apparatus for tipping sutures

A method and apparatus for tipping surgical sutures which includes winding the suture around a drum while continuously monitoring the suture diameter in x and y directions and adjusting the tension on the suture to control the suture diameter as it is being wound. The drum is then placed in an apparatus which passes selected portions of the suture through a mist of cyanoacrylate tipping agent generated by ultrasonic atomization. The tipping agent quickly cures and the tipped portion of the suture may be cut to create a tipped end for insertion into a surgical needle to form a needle suture device.

Growing community of inventors

Waterbury, CT, United States of America

Francis D Colligan