United States Surgical Corporation

George R Proto

Francis D Colligan

Harold Bellmore, Jr

Harold J Bellmore

Michael P Chesterfield

Richard N Granger

Stanley J Malinowski

Ross R Muth

Mark S Buchter

Paul A Scirica

Stephen W Zlock

Donald A Morin

Jonathan E Wilson

Michael J Gorecki

Terry C Eisensmith

Edward C White

Thomas A Ritter

Harold Jr Bellmore

Michael P Lauro

Jacob Avissar

A surgical needle or surgical incision member is provided including a body portion defining first and second longitudinal ends, a radiused tissue penetrating portion adjacent at least one longitudinal end of the body portion having a radius of approximately 0.005 to 0.015 inches, suture attachment structure formed in the body portion and a suture attached to the suture attachment structure. A method of suturing is also provided wherein the surgical needle may be passed through tissue while minimizing trauma to adjacent bony structures or the like.

Radiused tip surgical needles and surgical incision members

A surgical needle is provided including a body portion defining first and second longitudinal ends, the body portion includes a central portion having a first cross-sectional area and end portions adjacent the central portion having a smaller second cross-sectional area. A tissue penetrating portion is provided adjacent at least one end portion. Transition portions are provided intermediate the central portion and the end portions and taper from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area. Suture attachment structure is formed in the central portion and a suture is attached to the suture attachment structure. A method of suturing is also provided wherein the surgical needle may be passed through tough tissue while minimizing bending of the surgical needle.

Tapered surgical needles and surgical incision members

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

There is disclosed an apparatus for forming a surgical incision member comprising which includes a first die associated with a base and having a first groove therein for receipt of at least a portion of a needle blank. A second die is mounted for movement on the base between a position remote from the first die and a position adjacent the first die. The second die includes a second groove alignable with the first groove to hold a needle blank therebetween, the first and second dies each having spaced apart channels intersecting the first and second grooves. A notching die is provided and is mounted for movement within at the channels so as to engage and notch an edge of the needle blank contained within the first and second grooves. The apparatus also includes structure for curving a needle blank contained within the first and second grooves. A method of forming a surgical incision member is also disclosed, and a surgical incision member blank.

Progressive die apparatus and method for forming surgical incision

A siliconized surgical needle is provided which requires significantly less force to effect tissue penetration than a standard siliconized needle.

Siliconized surgical needle and method for its manufacture

A needle machining apparatus which presents a stock needle to a device for boring a hole in the needle. The apparatus also includes a needle feeding apparatus which provides high speed feeding of blank needles for the needle machining apparatus. A method for high speed feeding of needles for subsequent laser drilling is also disclosed.

Needle blank feeding apparatus

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.

Suture-needle combination with cyanoacrylate tipped sutures

A heat tipping method and apparatus for surgical sutures to facilitate inserting the sutures into the barrel ends of surgical needles. The method comprises tensioning the suture, heating a portion of the suture to be heat tipped by blowing a current of hot air across the portion of the suture, and releasing the tension and cutting the portion of the suture to create heat tipped ends. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum around which the suture is wound, a concave channel in the drum for delimiting a portion of the suture to be heated, and hot air blowers for heating the delimited portions of the suture to a heat tipping temperature. In another embodiment, the suture is looped and knotted. The loop and/or knot is then heated under such conditions so as to reversibly stiffen the loop and/or knot. Such stiffening facilitates placement and securement of the suture loop during surgical procedures.

Method and apparatus for heat tipping sutures

A loop threaded needle-suture device is disclosed wherein a surgical needle is provided with a pointed end and a drilled aperture extending axially of the butt end, and a length of flexible suture material is doubled upon itself to form a loop, both free ends of which are attached to the needle in the butt end aperture. The blunt end of the needle is deformed to form the aperture into an elliptical cross-section and the length of the loop is substantially greater than the length of the needle to facilitate insertion of the needle and suture material into tissue to be sutured, and looping the needle through the suture material prior to tieing the suture material. Thus, the loop functions as a double suture. A method of forming the unique loop threaded needle-suture is disclosed.

Loop threaded combined surgical needle-suture device

A heat tipping method and apparatus for surgical sutures to facilitate inserting the sutures into the barrel ends of surgical needles. The method comprises tensioning the suture, heating a portion of the suture to be heat tipped by blowing a current of hot air across the portion of the suture, and releasing the tension and cutting the portion of the suture to create heat tipped ends. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum around which the suture is wound, a concave channel in the drum for delimiting a portion of the suture to be heated, and hot air blowers for heating the delimited portions of the suture to a heat tipping temperature.

An apparatus is disclosed for attaching a surgical needle having a generally cylindrical end portin 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 generally arcuate surface portion having irregularities including concave portions such that when the cylindrical 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 surface portions facing the outer surface thereof, the application of inward force to the dies causes the dies to impact the needle and produces inward crimping of the needle so as to attach the needle to the suture. The concave portions define material relief zones to receive and collect deformed material from the needle so as to avoid distortion of 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. A method of forming such attachment is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

West Haven, CT, United States of America

George R Proto