Needle threading and swaging system

A needle threading and swaging apparatus for attaching a suture to a surgical needle having a suture receiving opening formed therein, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first means located at a first location for sorting a plurality of needles and orienting each needle for automatic handling at a first predetermined location;
• (b) a second means located at a second predetermined location for automatically cutting an indefinite length of suturematerial to a definite length and automatically inserting said suture into said suture receiving opening formed in said needle;
• (c) a third means for swaging said needle to close said suture receiving opening about a free end of said suture to secure said suture thereto and form therefrom a needle and suture assembly;
• and
• (d) indexing means for receiving each individual needle in a predetermined orientation at said first predetermined location and conveying said needle for sequential processing from said first to said second predetermined locations, said indexing means including multi-axis gripper means for retaining said needle in said predetermined oriention, and said multi-axis gripper means being movable between a first retracted position and a second extended position with respect to said indexing means,
• whereby unsorted needles and an indefinite length of suture material are automatically formed into a plurality of oriented needle and suture assemblies.