Swaging systems for attaching surgical needles to sutures having on-press testing of suture attachment strength
US10448947B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 22, 2017 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB21K25/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a frame, a bottom swaging die mounted on the frame, and a top swaging die mounted on the frame and being moveable up and down along a swaging axis that is aligned with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a hinge mechanism with a bottom plate mounted to the frame and a top plate overlying the bottom plate. The top and bottom plates are pivotally connected for enabling the top plate to pivot relative to the bottom plate. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis, and a load cell disposed between the top and bottom plates for monitoring load. The system includes a control system having one or more pull test programs stored therein for evaluating pull tests on armed surgical needles to determine if the armed surgical needles are acceptable or unacceptable.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.