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. 22, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 01, 2007
Frank R. Cichocki, Easton, PA (US);
Thomas Nering, Holland Township, NJ (US);
David Demarest, Parsippany, NJ (US);
Frank R. Cichocki, Easton, PA (US);
Thomas Nering, Holland Township, NJ (US);
David Demarest, Parsippany, NJ (US);
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Abstract
A method of thermal forming of refractory alloy suture needles is disclosed. Needle blanks made from refractory alloys are used to form surgical needles, which are heated to a temperature above the ductile to brittle transition temperature but below the recrystallization temperature of the refractory alloy. The heated needle blanks are then mechanically formed into a surgical needle. A Fixture and an apparatus for forming refractory alloy surgical needles using this method are also disclosed.