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US 5,540,773 AGranted
Apparatus for calendering and coating/filling sutures
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsMichael P. Chesterfield, Mark P. Reale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for calendering a suture includes passing the suture lengthwise between two pairs of calendering rollers each pair being oriented orthogonally to the other pair. The suture may be coated and/or filled by passing it through the contacting region of a suture filling applicator to which filling agent is supplied by a metering pump. The filling process may be computer controlled.
Claims29
An apparatus for treating multi-filament surgical sutures, which comprises:
- a) a calendering apparatus for applying a predetermined first compressive force across a first diameter of the suture and thereafter applying a predetermined second compressive force across a second diameter of the suture, the direction of said second diameter of the suture being substantially orthogonal to the direction of said first diameter of the suture;
- b) an applicator for applying a fluid suture treating agent to the running length of the suture after the suture is passed through said calendering apparatus;
- and
- c) a dryer for drying the fluid suture treating agent onto the suture after the fluid treating agent is applied by the applicator,
- wherein the calendering apparatus includes:
- a frame;
- a first pair of rotatable cylinders mounted to the frame and being substantially parallel to each other, and
- a second pair of rotatably cylinders mounted to the frame and being substantially parallel to each other and oriented substantially orthogonally to said first pair of rotatable cylinders,
- and wherein the apparatus further includes a supply of fluid suture treating agent and a conduit to convey the fluid suture treating agent to said applicator.
6 more elements
An apparatus for treating multi-filament surgical sutures, which comprises:
- a) a calendering apparatus for applying a predetermined first compressive force across a first diameter of the suture and thereafter applying a predetermined second compressive force across a second diameter of the suture, the direction of said second diameter of the suture being substantially orthogonal to the direction of said first diameter of the suture, wherein said calendering apparatus includes:
- a frame;
- a first pair of rotatable cylinders mounted to said frame and being substantially parallel to each other, at least one of said first pair of rotatable cylinders being laterally movable toward and away from the other and being resiliently biased toward the other;
- and
- a second pair of rotatable cylinders mounted to said frame and being substantially parallel to each other, at least one of said second pair of rotatable cylinders being laterally movable toward and away from the other and being resiliently biased toward the other, wherein said second pair of rotatable cylinders are oriented substantially orthogonally to said first pair of rotatable cylinders;
- b) an applicator for applying a fluid suture treating agent to the running length of the suture after the suture is passed through said calendering apparatus;
- and
- c) a dryer for drying the fluid suture treating agent onto the suture after the fluid treating agent is applied by the applicator.
5 more elements
An apparatus for treating multi-filament surgical sutures, which comprises:
- a) a calendering apparatus for applying a predetermined first compressive force across a first diameter of the suture and thereafter applying a predetermined second compressive force across a second diameter of the suture, the direction of said second diameter of the suture being substantially orthogonal to the direction of said first diameter of the suture;
- b) an applicator for applying a fluid suture treating agent to the running length of the suture after the suture is passed through said calendering apparatus:
- and
- c) a dryer for drying the fluid suture treating agent onto the suture after the fluid treating agent is applied by the applicator,
- the apparatus further including a supply of fluid suture treating agent and a conduit to convey said fluid suture treating agent to said applicator.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.