Machine for the automated packaging of needles and attached sutures

US5983601A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• John F. Blanch · Tinton Falls, US
• David Demarest · Parsippany, US
• Robert A. Daniele · Flemington, US
• Anthony Esteves · Somerville, US
• William F. Smith · Ringoes, US
• Michael G. Hodulik · Dunellen, US
• Teresa M. Shaw · Lawrenceville, US
• George Horst Reinemuth · Glen Mills, US
• Richard Paul Branco · Collegeville, US
• Matthew Cafone · Edgewater Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 6, 1998
• Grant date: Nov 16, 1999
• Expiry date: Feb 6, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65B43/60
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A machine and a method for the automated packaging of armed sutures or; in effect, surgical needles having sutures attached thereto and, more particularly, an automated machine for the high-speed individualized packaging of single or individual surgical needles each having an attached suture into a tray and detachable cover providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the individual or single needles and attached sutures. Additionally, the automated packaging machine incorporates operative mechanism adapted to wind the sutures into a peripheral channel of the tray and facilitating the attachment of the cover to the tray which contains the single needle and attached wound suture, and which cover concurrently constitutes a product-identifying label as a component of the tray, and upon removal of the cover enables a user to gain access to the contents of the tray; in essence, the armed suture.