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:
Nov. 23, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 06, 1998
John F Blanch, Tinton Falls, NJ (US);
David D Demarest, Parsippany, NJ (US);
Robert A Daniele, Flemington, NJ (US);
Anthony Esteves, Somerville, NJ (US);
William F Smith, Ringoes, NJ (US);
George Horst Reinemuth, Glen Mills, PA (US);
Richard Paul Branco, Collegeville, PA (US);
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Abstract
A machine for the automated packaging of armed sutures or; in effect, surgical needles having sutures attached thereto and, more particularly, a needle gripper and transfer arrangement in an automated machine for the high-speed individualized packaging into trays of single or individual surgical needles each having an attached suture and a detachable cover providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the individual or single needles and attached sutures. The machine includes vertically adjustable frame structure so as to adjust the elevation thereof relative to the needle transfer arrangement to facilitate the packaging of differently sized needles in a single size of packaging tray.