The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 29, 1994
Filed:
Oct. 09, 1992
Said A Rizk, Monroe, CT (US);
Alfred G Evans, Torrington, CT (US);
United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for determining the bending characteristics of a curved surgical needle having a butt end portion and a tip portion including a base support, a clamp for releasably gripping the butt end portion of the needle. A system of stepper motors and related plates is provided for moving the gripped needle along a predetermined path. A load cell is positioned within the predetermined path for engagement by the tip of the needle and for sensing the forces generated by the moving needle tip, and a minimal friction support plate is provided for the load cell to maintain the needle tip at a predetermined location on the load cell while moving the gripped needle.