Method of and apparatus for welding surgical needle stock to a metal tape
US5887778A · kind A · utility
25Cited by
3References
36Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B17/06066
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus is available for receiving surgical needle stock from a needle fabrication line and welding the surgical needle stock to a metal tape. The apparatus includes a welding station where the needle stock is welded to the tape. A tape indexing unit is arranged to move the metal tape through the welding station. A preload chuck is arranged to receive the surgical needle stock from the needle fabrication line and a gripper assembly is arranged to receive the surgical needle stock from the preload chuck and transfer the surgical needle stock from the preload chuck to the welding station.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.