Needle feed wheel and needle transfer mechanism

US5661954A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Ethicon, Inc. · US
• Harro Hoefliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Konstantin Ivanov · Edison, US
• James Lotze · Skillman, US
• Donald Pompei · Montville, US
• Manfred Reiser · Winnenden, DE
• Jost Mucheyer · Waiblingen, DE
• Erwin Bauder · Waiblingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 1995
• Grant date: Sep 2, 1997
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B17/06114
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The specification discloses an automated apparatus and method for packaging surgical needles having sutures attached thereto wherein a bundle of needles and sutures are placed at a semi-automated separation station and an operator feeds the needles, one at a time, into a rotating needle feed wheel. As the feed wheel advances, the suture is tensioned and directed along a pre-determined path to separate it from the remaining sutures in the bundle. The apparatus has a plurality of individually rotatable tool nests which are sequentially spaced on a rotating or indexing turntable. These tool nests sequentially receive plastic packages for receiving the needle and suture at a first station. At a second station, a needle is inserted into the package by robotic fingers which have retrieved the needle and attached suture from the rotating needle feed wheel. The rotating needle feed wheel and the rotating tool nests are synchronized to step together as each advances. At a third station, the package and needle are rotated to tension the suture and position the package and the suture for automatic winding of the suture into the package. At a fourth station, the rotatable tool nest is rapidly …