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. 11, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 16, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:
Francis D Colligan, Waterbury, CT (US);
Donald C Ross, Orange, CT (US);
Assignee:
United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B21D / ; B23P / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
29517 ; 29788 ; 29796 ; 292835 ; 163-1 ; 163-5 ; 198391 ;
Abstract
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.