Medical suturing device, a single-strike die mechanism, and a method of using said die mechanism for forming the medical suturing device
AssigneeAmerican Cyanamid Company
InventorsCharles L. Putnam, Mark L. Stein, Patrick R. Holmes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A single-strike die mechanism includes a rotatable cam drive ring driven to impart through a cam mechanism linear motion to at least three crimping dies. The crimping dies are symmetrically arranged within a die guide and simultaneously actuated to move in a radial direction toward a centerline of a surgical needle. A surgical suture is axially inserted within a hollow barrel end of the needle, and the barrel end is crimped by the crimping dies to secure the suture therein. A method for operating the single-strike die mechanizes the procedure for securing the suture within the barrel end of the needle.
Claims10
A method of producing a medical suturing device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a single-strike die mechanism having a plurality of crimping dies each reciprocally movable in radially inward and outward directions, and each having a crimping surface that extends generally perpendicularly to the radial inward and outward direction;
- providing a surgical needle, having a hollow barrel end, and a separated surgical suture;
- positioning the crimping dies generally to define a circumscribed circle larger in diameter than the hollow barrel end of the surgical needle;
- inserting the needle within the circumscribed circle;
- closing the crimping dies in the radially inward direction to a gripping position for lightly gripping the barrel end;
- axially inserting the surgical suture into the hollow barrel end;
- further closing the crimping dies in the radially inward direction to apply a crimping force to deform the barrel end about the inserted surgical suture;
- and
- opening the crimping dies to release the surgical needle and attached suture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.