US 5,226,336 AGranted

Apparatus for manufacturing a surgical suture

AssigneeAmerican Cyanamid Company

InventorPeter A. Coates

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An apparatus for cutting at least one end of a surgical suture is described. The apparatus comprises a first pair of feed rollers which advance the surgical suture through a hole (or opening) in a cutting assembly. The first pair of feed rollers is driven by a stepper motor. A second pair of friction rollers take up the slack (i.e., provide tension) to the surgical suture beyond the cutting assembly. The second pair of friction rollers is driven by an electric or stepper motor. The cutting assembly comprises an anvil plate in which the hole is positioned, and a razor blade which is placed in a movable bracket against the anvil plate. The cutting edge of the razor blade is driven by a spring across the hole and cuts the surgical suture. The spring is activated (and can be reactivated for repetitive steps) by an electric motor.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An apparatus for melt fusing and cutting a suitable controlled length of a multifilament thermoplastic material, the apparatus comprising

means for advancing and mean for heating the suitable controlled length of the multifilament thermoplastic material, the means for heating having a longitudinal axis parallel to a direction of advance of said multifilament thermoplastic material;
means for maintaining said suitable controlled length in a stationary position in said means for heating;
and
first means for tensioning said suitable controlled length being fused, in combination with
means for automatically inserting said multifilament material through an opening;
second means for automatically tensioning at least a portion of said multifilament material adjacent to the opening, the second means for automatically tensioning cooperating with the means for advancing, said opening being between said second means for automatically tensioning and
means for shearing said multifilament material, the means for shearing comprising a cutting blade and means for moving the cutting blade across said opening.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/780,560Filed 17 Oct 1991 · continuation
Priority: 30 Jul 1987
Granted: 13 Jul 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

A61L 17/00
Materials for surgical sutures or for ligaturing blood vessels
A61B 17/06166
Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: sutures
D02J 1/22
Modifying the structure or properties resulting from a particular structure; Modifying, retaining, or restoring the physical form or…: stretching…
Y10S 83/909
Cutting: cutting strand extending from or lying on strand or package support