Method and apparatus for heat tipping sutures
US5250247A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 19, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 5, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/06019
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A heat tipping method and apparatus for surgical sutures to facilitate inserting the sutures into the barrel ends of surgical needles. The method comprises tensioning the suture, heating a portion of the suture to be heat tipped by blowing a current of hot air across the portion of the suture, and releasing the tension and cutting the portion of the suture to create heat tipped ends. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum around which the suture is wound, a concave channel in the drum for delimiting a portion of the suture to be heated, and hot air blowers for heating the delimited portions of the suture to a heat tipping temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.