Ethicon, Gmbh

Timothy A Sardelis

Lee P Bendel

William C McJames

Leon K Stungurys

Lawrence P Trozzo

Douglas Warren Ackerman

Lester E Schaible

Paul J Parisi

Hugo R Florez

Jeffrey T Lavin

Matthew J McGrane

Matthew L Wolczynski

Jeffrey K McVey

Thomas A Astarita

A continuous process for heat treating and cleaning and tempering martensitic stainless steel surgical needles is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the surgical needles to a partial vacuum at a temperature less than the heat treating temperature to remove volatile surface contaminant. Then the needles are heat treated in an argon gas environment at a pressure equal to or greater than 1.0 Torr. Next the temperature of the oven is lowered to temper the needles.

Process for heat treating and tempering surgical needles

A method of heat treating and cleaning maraging or precipitation hardening stainless steel surgical needles is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the surgical needles to a partial vacuum at a temperature less than the aging temperature to remove volatile surface contaminants. Then the needles are heat treated in an argon gas environment at a pressure equal to or greater than 1.0 atmosphere.

Process for the heat treatment of surgical needles by aging

A non-magnetic surgical needle. The needle is made from Type 316 stainless steel or ERSTE 4456CA stainless steel and is work hardened to have mechanical properties substantially equivalent to a surgical needle made from conventional magnetic stainless steel. The needle is useful in the magnetic field of a magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic apparatus.

Non-magnetic stainless steel surgical needle

A new and useful predictor for maraging stainless steel alloys is created, called the martensite finish temperature, M.sub.f (.degree. F.). This formula enables one to predict the temperature at which a steel is entirely converted to martensite, and is described as M.sub.f =1027--78% Ni--27% Ti--34% Mo. A desirable needle alloy for this amount is nickel at 10%, molybdenum at about 2.7%, and titanium at about 2%.

Means for predicting preformance of stainless steel alloy for use with

A novel cardiac pacing lead. The pacing lead has a conductive wire comprising a single filament of a low modulus metal. A surgical needle is mounted to a distal end of the wire and an electrode needle is mounted to the proximal end of the wire. An integral anchor is formed in a distal, uninsulated section of the wire for anchoring the pacing lead in heart muscle. The wire has a 'hand' similar to multifilament wires.

Cardiac pacing lead

A surgical needle having an I-beam configuration is disclosed. The surgical needle comprises an elongated member having an I-beam cross section wherein two opposed flange members are connected by a web member. The elongated member has a piercing point extending from its distal end. A cylindrical mounting section extends from the proximal end of the needle for receiving an end of a suture. The needle has increased resistance to bending and buckling when compared to conventional needles and does not have an increase in resistance or drag.

I-beam needle having true I-beam cross-section

A needle alloy wherein the nickel content is between 6.3% and 9.5%, the chromium content is between 11.5% and 12.5% and the molydenum content is between 3% and 4%. In addition, tantalum and titanium should be present at a combined level of no more than 2.1%. Favorable results from this alloy cause needles to have a greater than 400,000 psi ultimate tensile strength.

Nickel titanium martensitic steel for surgical needles

Metallic, hemostatic clips providing a reduced gap when closed about a tubular vessel.

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Somerset, NJ, United States of America

Timothy A Sardelis