Process for heat treating and tempering surgical needles
US5814166A · kind A · utility
9Cited by
5References
11Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC21D2241/01
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A continuous process for heat treating and cleaning and tempering martensitic stainless steel surgical needles is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the surgical needles to a partial vacuum at a temperature less than the heat treating temperature to remove volatile surface contaminant. Then the needles are heat treated in an argon gas environment at a pressure equal to or greater than 1.0 Torr. Next the temperature of the oven is lowered to temper the needles.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.