System and method for forming barbs on a suture
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsNicholas Maiorino, Timothy Kosa, Mark Buchter, Keith Kroeber, Richard Casey Hart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A station for cutting a barb suture is provided. The barb cutting station includes a suture transport assembly for supporting a first suture, a first knife assembly for forming barbs on the first suture, and a first clamp and position assembly for approximating the at least first suture towards the at least first knife assembly. The barb cutting station may further include at least a first suture cutting mechanism configured for severing the at least first suture when a defect is detected. The station may also include at least a first visual inspection assembly configured for detecting defective barbs.
Claims17
A method of forming barbs on a suture comprising:
- securing first and second ends of a suture to an upright suture transport such that the suture is maintained in a vertical orientation;
- positioning the suture relative to a knife assembly, the knife assembly including a knife;
- clamping the suture;
- moving the suture into engagement with the knife;
- and
- moving the suture out of engagement with the knife.
A method of forming barbs on a suture comprising:
- securing first and second ends of first and second sutures to a suture transport;
- positioning the first and second sutures relative to respective first and second knife assemblies, each of the first and second knife assemblies including a knife;
- clamping the first and second sutures;
- moving the first and second sutures into engagement with the knife of the respective first and second knife assemblies;
- and
- moving the first and second sutures out of engagement with the knife of the respective first and second knife assemblies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.