Process for manufacturing taper point surgical needles
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Smith, Bernard M. Willis, Kenneth P. Marschke, Jr., Barry Littlewood, Vulgens Schoen, Carl Gucker, Michael Nordmeyer, Thaddeus Miklewicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for manufacturing wire or needles having a taper point. Needle or wire blanks are cut from a roll of wire and mounted to a carrier strip. The carrier strip and needles are moved through a succession of forming and trimming and grinding stations. The blanks are preferably rotated in the strip while being ground.
Claims20
A method for manufacturing a taper point needle, comprising:
- mounting a plurality of needle blanks to a carrier means, the needle blanks each having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;
- moving the carrier means and each needle blank to a first coining station and then coining each needle blank;
- moving each needle blank to a trimming station and die cutting manufacturing flash from each needle blank;
- and,
- moving each needle blank to a grinding means and grinding the distal end of each needle blank while rotating it in the carrier means to form a piercing point.
A method for manufacturing a taper point needle, comprising:
- mounting a plurality of needle blanks to a carrier means, the needle blanks each having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;
- moving the carrier means and each needle blank to a first coining station and then coining each needle blank;
- and,
- moving each needle blank to a grinding means and grinding the distal end of each needle blank while rotating it in the carrier means to form a taper point.
A method for manufacturing a wire member having a taper point, comprising:
- mounting a plurality of wire blanks to a carrier means, the wire blanks each having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;
- moving the carrier means and each wire blank to a first coining station and then coining each wire blank;
- moving each wire blank to a trimming station and die cutting each wire blank;
- and,
- moving each wire blank to a grinding means and grinding the distal end of each wire blank while rotating it in the carrier means to form a piercing point.
A method for manufacturing a wire member having a taper point, comprising;
- mounting a plurality of wire blanks to a carrier means, the wire blanks each having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;
- moving the carrier means and each wire blank to a first coining station and then coining each wire blank;
- and,
- moving each wire blank to a grinding means and grinding the distal end of each wire blank while rotating it in the carrier means to form a taper point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.