Needle-suture assembly and packaging system

An automated machine performing multiple simultaneous operations during each machine cycle, said machine automatically attaching a definite length suture to an individual surgical needle having a suture receiving opening formed therein during each machine cycle and automatically packaging a plurality of successively formed needle-suture assemblies in a package tray during successive machine cycles, said machine comprising:

• (a) a first workstation including means for sorting a plurality of needles and orienting an individual needle during each machine cycle for automatic and sequential feeding thereof to a subsequent workstation;
• (b) a second workstation for forming a needle-suture assembly during each machine cycle including means for automatically cutting an indefinite length of suture material to an individual, definite length suture and means for automatically swaging one of said individual needles during each machine cycle to close said suture receiving opening about a free end of said definite length suture to secure said suture thereto,
• (c) a needle packaging station including means for sequentially receiving a plurality of said needle-suture assemblies in a package tray with a single needle-suture assembly received during each machine cycle while a subsequent needle-suture assembly is formed at said second workstation, said needle packaging station having a means for automatically winding a plurality of definite length suture portions depending from said needle-suture assemblies into said package tray,
• (d) a first indexing means for sequentially receiving individual oriented needles fed from said first workstation and sequentially transferring each of said needles from said first workstation to said second workstation to form a needle-suture assembly thereat, said first indexing means sequentially indexing a formed needle-suture assembly from said second workstation to said needle packaging station during each machine cycle,
• whereby unsorted needles and an indefinite length of suture material are automatically formed into a plurality of oriented needle-suture assemblies and positioned within said package to facilitate their orderly removal therefrom.