Apparatus for singulating blunts
US6640428B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53478
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for fabricating a needle assembly which includes a blunt in a cannula of a needle. In one example of a method, at least one blunt is collected in a cutout of a blade from a set of blunts and a fluid is passed across said cutout. Any further blunts around the cutout are dislodged by the fluid, leaving only one blunt on the blade. In another example of a method, a blade is moved to a first position to collect at least one blunt from a set of blunts, and the blade is moved to a second position to singulate the one blunt from the set of blunts; the blade has a tip end which is designed to capture securely only one blunt, wherein any further blunts are not securely maintained in the tip end. An exemplary apparatus includes a container for holding a set of blunts, a motor, and a blade coupled to the motor and disposed at least partially within a slot of said container. The blade includes a tip end which is designed to capture securely only one blunt.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.