# US 5,707,391 A · Apparatus and method for attaching surgical needle suture components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,391 A - Document ID: US5707391A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/474,346 - Filed: 1995-06-07 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1995-06-07 - Assignees: United States Surgical Corporation - Inventors: Richard P. Carpentieri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707391A ## CPC - A61B 17/06004: {Means for attaching suture to needle (tipping A61B17/06195)} - B21G 1/08: of hollow needles or needles with hollow end, e.g. hypodermic needles, larding-needles (B21G1/10 takes precedence) - A61B 2017/06028: {by means of a cylindrical longitudinal blind bore machined at the suture-receiving end of the needle, e.g. opposite to needle tip} - Y10T 29/49925: Inward deformation of aperture or hollow body wall - Y10T 29/53213: Assembled to wire-type conductor - Y10T 29/53235: Means to fasten by deformation - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B21G: MAKING NEEDLES, PINS OR NAILS OF METAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Apparatus for attaching a surgical needle having an end portion with an elongated aperture defined therein and a suture having a generally elongated end portion to be positioned in the elongated aperture of the needle, includes a pair of dies, each die defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner die surface. The inner die surface includes at least two raised swaging portions extending generally along the longitudinal axis of the die and a generally recessed portion defined between adjacent swaging portions and extending substantially along the lengths thereof. The swaging portions each have an engaging surface defining a plane angularly oriented relative to a longitudinal bisecting plane of the dies. The recessed portion defines a relief zone such that when the end portion of the suture is positioned within the aperture of the needle end and the dies are positioned about the end portion of the needle with the at least two swaging portions of each die generally facing the outer surface of the needle, applying inward crimping force to the dies causes the engaging surfaces of the dies to produce inward crimping forces on opposed sides of the needle end portion to cause a reduction of the dimension of the elongated aperture of the needle to thereby attach the needle to the suture, wherein the recessed portion defined between the adjacent swaging portions receive and collect deformed material from the needle. A method for attaching a surgical suture to a needle with the dies is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical needle-suture attachment apparatus for attaching a surgical needle and a suture, which comprises a pair of dies, and a surgical needle having an end portion with an elongated aperture defined therein, each die defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner die surface, the inner die surface including at least two raised swaging portions extending generally along the longitudinal axis and a generally recessed portion defined between adjacent swaging portions and extending substantially along the lengths of adjacent swaging portions, the swaging portions each having an engaging surface defining a plane oriented at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal bisecting plane which bisects each die, the recessed portion defining a relief zone such that when an end portion of the suture is positioned within the aperture of the needle end and the dies are positioned about the end portion of the needle with the at least two swaging portions of each die generally facing the outer surface of the needle, applying inward crimping force to the dies causes the engaging surfaces of the dies to produce inward crimping forces on opposed sides of the needle end portion to cause a reduction of the dimension of the elongated aperture of the needle to thereby attach the needle to the suture, wherein the recessed portion defined between the adjacent swaging portions are for receiving and collecting deformed material from the needle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the swaging portions of each die are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal bisecting plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a plane defined by an engaging surface of a first swaging portion of each die is oriented at a positive angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal bisecting plane and wherein a plane defined by an engaging surface of a second swaging portion of each die is oriented at a negative angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the angles of orientation defined by the planes of the engaging surfaces of the first and second swaging portions of each die are substantially equal in magnitude. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the angles of orientation defined by the planes of the engaging surfaces of the first and second swaging portions of each die range in magnitude from about 30.degree. to about 60.degree.. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3 including a secondary recessed portion disposed between each of the first and second swaging portions and a die face of each die, wherein in an approximated swaging position of the dies adjacent secondary recessed portions of the dies define secondary relief zones to receive and collect material displaced by the swaging action. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the secondary relief zones are substantially similar in cross-sectional dimension to the cross-sectional dimension of the relief zone defined by the recessed portion disposed between the first and second swaging portions of each die. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the recessed portion disposed between adjacent swaging portions of each die is generally arcuately-shaped. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the recessed portion defines a radius of curvature which is substantially constant throughout its length. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for attaching a first elongated member having an end portion with an elongated aperture defined therein and a second elongated member having a generally elongated end portion to be positioned in the elongated aperture of the first elongated member, which comprises a pair of dies, each die defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner die surface, the inner die surface including at least two raised swaging portions extending generally along the longitudinal axis and a generally recessed portion defined between adjacent swaging portions and extending substantially along the lengths of adjacent swaging portions, the swaging portions each having an engaging surface defining a plane oriented at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal bisecting plane and tapering outwardly from a front surface of the die to a rear surface of the die, the recessed portion defining a relief zone such that when an end portion of the second elongated member is positioned within the aperture of the first elongated member and the dies are positioned about the end portion of the first elongated member with the at least two swaging portions of each die generally facing the outer surface of the first elongated member, applying inward crimping force to the dies causes the engaging surfaces of the dies to produce inward crimping forces on opposed sides of the first elongated member portion to cause a reduction of the dimension of the elongated aperture of the first elongated member to thereby attach the first elongated member to the second elongated member, wherein the recessed portion defined between the adjacent swaging portions are for receiving and collecting deformed material from the first elongated member. ### Claim 11 Apparatus for attaching a surgical needle and a suture, which comprises a pair of dies, and a surgical needle having an end portion with an elongated aperture defined therein, each die defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner die surface, the inner die surface having first and second generally longitudinally extending swaging surfaces with a recessed portion disposed between the swaging surfaces of each die, the swaging surfaces each defining a plane oriented at an acute angle relative to an intervening bisecting longitudinal plane disposed between the swaging surfaces of each die, the plane defined by the first swaging surface oriented at a positive angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal intervening plane, the plane defined by the second swaging surface oriented at a negative angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal intervening plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the angles of orientation defined by the planes of the engaging surfaces of the first and second swaging portions of each die are substantially equivalent in magnitude. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the recessed portion disposed between the swaging surfaces extends the entire lengths of the swaging surfaces. ### Claim 14 A method for attaching a surgical needle to a suture, the needle having an end portion with an elongated aperture formed therein, the suture having an end portion suitably configured for insertion into the aperture, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a pair of dies adjacent the needle end, each die defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner die surface portion, the inner die surface portion including at least two raised swaging portions extending generally along the longitudinal axis and a recessed portion disposed between adjacent swaging portions and extending the lengths thereof, the swaging portions of each die having an engaging surface defining a plane oriented at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal plane which is disposed between the swaging portions of each die, the engaging surfaces of the swaging portions facing the outer surface of the needle end and the recessed portion extending along the direction of the needle end which defines the elongated aperture; inserting the suture end portion into the elongated aperture; and applying inward impact force to the dies to displace the dies toward each other causing the two engaging surfaces of each die to engage the outer surface of the needle end to thereby cause crimping of the needle end and reduction of an average dimension of the aperture defined therein, whereby the recessed portion disposed between the engaging surfaces is configured and dimensioned to permit deformed material of the needle to be received and collected therewithin so as to facilitate attachment of the needle and the suture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14 wherein the step of positioning a pair of dies includes providing each die having swaging portions which are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal plane of the respective die. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein said step of positioning a pair of dies comprises positioning a pair of dies wherein each die has an inner die surface portion having at least two raised swaging portions, a plane defined by a first swaging portion oriented at a positive angle with respect to the longitudinal plane of the die and a plane defined by a second swaging portion oriented at a negative angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal plane of the die. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein the angles defined by the planes of the engaging surfaces of each die are substantially equal in magnitude. ### Claim 18 A method for attaching a surgical needle to a suture, the needle having an end portion with an elongated aperture formed therein, the suture having an end portion suitably configured for insertion into the aperture, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a pair of dies adjacent the needle end, each die defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner die surface portion, the inner die surface portion including at least first and second raised swaging portions extending generally along the longitudinal axis and a recessed portion disposed between adjacent swaging portions and extending the lengths thereof, the first and second swaging portions of each die having respective first and second engaging surfaces, the first engaging surface defining a plane oriented at a positive acute angle relative to a longitudinal bisecting plane of the die, the second engaging surface defining a plane oriented at a negative acute angle relative to a longitudinal bisecting plane of the die, the angles defined by the planes of the first and second swaging portions range from about 30.degree. to about 60.degree., the engaging surfaces of the swaging portions facing the outer surface of the needle end and the recessed portion extending along the direction of the needle end which defines the elongated aperture; inserting the suture end portion into the elongated aperture; and applying inward impact force to the dies to displace the dies toward each other causing the two engaging surface of each die to engage the outer surface of the needle end to thereby cause crimping of the needle end and reduction of an average dimension of the aperture defined therein, whereby the recessed portion disposed between the engaging surfaces is configured and dimensioned to permit deformed material of the needle to be received and collected therewithin so as to facilitate attachment of the needle and the suture. ### Claim 19 A needle-suture combination, which comprises: a) a surgical needle including a sharp end and a blunt end, the blunt end defining an elongated aperture therein, the blunt end defining a longitudinal bisecting plane; b) a suture having a generally elongated end portion which is positioned within the elongated aperture of the needle; and c) a portion of the blunt end swaged to cause attachment of the needle to the suture, the swaged portion including at least two generally longitudinal extending planar surface portions and at least one substantially arcuate raised portion disposed between adjacent planar surface portions and extending substantially the lengths thereof, a first of the planar surface portions being disposed on one side of the longitudinal bisecting plane and being oriented at a positive acute angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal bisecting plane and a second planar surface portion being disposed on the other side of the longitudinal bisecting plane and being oriented at a negative acute angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal bisecting plane, at least one of the first and second planar surface portions also tapering toward the pointed end of the needle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The needle-suture combination according to claim 19 wherein the planar surface portions are angularly offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the blunt end of a needle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The needle-suture combination according to claim 19 wherein the swaged portion includes first and second pairs of opposed generally planar surface portions, each pair of planar surface portions having one substantially arcuate raised portion disposed between the planar surface portions of the pair, the arcuate raised portion extending substantially the lengths of the planar surface portions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The needle-suture combination according to claim 21 including arcuate raised portions disposed between the first and second pairs of the planar surface portions. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The needle-suture combination according to claim 22 wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of the arcuate raised portions disposed between the first and second pairs of the planar surface portions are each substantially similar in dimension to the cross-sectional dimension of the arcuate-raised portion disposed between the planar surface portions of each pair. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The needle-suture combination according to claim 19 wherein the swaged portion includes four planar surface portions. ### Claim 25 A needle-suture combination, which comprises: a) a surgical needle including a pointed end and a blunt end, the blunt end having an elongated aperture therein and defining a longitudinal bisecting plane; b) a suture having a generally elongated end portion which is positioned within the elongated aperture of the needle; and c) a portion of the blunt end swaged to cause attachment of the needle to the suture, the swaged portion including first and second pairs of opposed generally longitudinal extending planar portions, each pair of planar portions having a first planar portion on one side of the longitudinal plane and being oriented at a positive acute angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal plane and a second planar portion on the other side of the longitudinal plane and being oriented at a negative acute angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal plane, the first planar portions of the first and second pairs of planar portions being in different planes and tapering toward the pointed end of the needle. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The needle-suture combination of claim 25 wherein the angles of orientation defined by the planes of the first and second planar portions of each die are substantially equal in magnitude. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The needle suture combination of claim 26 wherein the swaged portion includes a substantially arcuate raised portion disposed between the first and second planar portions of each pair of planar portions.