Ethicon, Gmbh

Robert Brown

Thomas D Maurer

Robert J Baker

John Wong

Eugene D Reynolds

George Schob

Geoffrey DeYoung

Gordon Stuart

Mufutau G Olatunji

Andrew John Schuessler

A continuous process for electropolishing surgical needles. Surgical needles are mounted to an electrically conductive carrier strip. The carrier strip and needles are then moved continuously through an electropolishing bath and the needles are maintained in the bath for a sufficient period of time to effectively polish the needles.

Continuous process for electropolishing surgical needles

A needle having three fluted edges, all of the same angular size. The needle presents a five sided cross-section at a tapered end. This results in easier tissue penetration, reduced cross-sectional needle area, better wound opening area performance, and minimized tissue distortion. In an alternate embodiment, the flat surface from which the taper is formed is on the inside of the needle so that the outer fluted edges are formed outside that configuration.

Surgical needle configuration with five-sided cross-section

A needle having three fluted edges, all of the same angular size. The needle presents a five sided cross-section at a tapered end. This results in easier tissue penetration, reduced cross-sectional needle area, better wound opening area performance, and minimized tissue distortion.

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Robert Brown