Method and apparatus for heat tipping sutures
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsMichael P. Chesterfield, Stanley J. Malinowski, George R. Proto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat tipping method and apparatus for surgical sutures to facilitate inserting the sutures into the barrel ends of surgical needles. The method includes tensioning the suture, heating a portion of the suture to be heat tipped by blowing a current of hot air across the portion of the suture, and releasing the tension and cutting the portion of the suture to create heat tipped ends. The apparatus includes a cylindrical drum around which the suture is wound, a concave channel in the drum for delimiting a portion of the suture to be heated, and hot air blowers for heating the delimited portions of the suture to a heat tipping temperature.
Claims35
A method for heat tipping a surgical suture comprising:
- a) delimiting a portion of the suture to be heat tipped;
- b) heating said delimited portion of said suture to a heat tipping temperature of between about 300.degree. F. to 320.degree. F. and maintaining said heat tipping temperature for a period of time determined in accordance with the size of the suture, said heat tipping temperature being such as to cause said delimited portion of said suture to be reversibly stiffened upon being permitted to cool.
An apparatus for heat tipping a suture which comprises:
- a) a substantially cylindrical drum having a concave channel for delimiting a portion of the suture not in contact with the drum to be heat tipped;
- and
- b) means for heating said delimited portion of said suture to a heat tipping temperature.
A method for heat tipping a surgical suture comprising:
- a) selecting a predetermined portion of the suture;
- b) heating said selected portion of said suture to a predetermined temperature sufficient to cause said portion of said suture to be reversibly stiffened when said heat is maintained for a predetermined period of time and said selected portion of said suture is permitted to cool;
- c) maintaining said temperature for said predetermined period of time;
- and
- d) permitting said selected portion of said suture to be cooled.
An apparatus for heat tipping a suture which comprises:
- a) a substantially cylindrical drum which includes an elongated member mounted within a longitudinal notch in the surface of said drum, said elongated member being radially movable between a first position whereby said elongated member extends a relatively further distance beyond the circumferential surface of said drum, and a second position whereby said elongated member extends a relatively lesser distance beyond the circumferential surface of said drum;
- b) a concave channel extending longitudinally parallel to the axis of said drum for delimiting a portion of said suture to be heat tipped;
- c) means for heating said delimited portion of said suture to a heat tipping temperature;
- at least one row of cool air outlets for blowing relatively cool air across the non-delimited portion of the suture to prevent said non delimited portion of the suture from being heat-tipped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.