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, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 18, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:
Konstantin Ivanov, Basking Ridge, NJ (US);
John Rega, Milltown, NJ (US);
Clifford Dey, Flemington, NJ (US);
Albert C. Grosenbeck, Easton, PA (US);
Robert J. Cerwin, Pipersville, PA (US);
Joseph Stanley Siernos, Whitehouse Station, NJ (US);
Assignee:
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65B 5/00 ; B65B 6/304 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B65B 5/00 ; B65B 6/304 ;
Abstract
An apparatus for inserting surgical needles in needle parks. The apparatus has a frame, a needle block slidably mounted to the frame, a shuttle member slidably mounted to the frame, and a pick-up head. The needle block has a plurality of guide members spaced apart to receive at least one surgical needle and at least one needle park. The apparatus is used in a method of automatically loading surgical needles into the needle parks of surgical suture packages.