Suture package unloading arrangement in a machine for the automated packaging of needles and attached sutures
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsRobert A. Daniele, Anthony Esteves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for the automated packaging of armed sutures or; in effect, surgical needles having sutures attached thereto and, more particularly, a suture package unloading arrangement and package unloading method employed in an automated machine for the high-speed individualized packaging of single or individual surgical needles each having an attached suture into a tray and detachable cover providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the individual or single needles and attached sutures.
Claims22
A suture package unloading arrangement in a machine for automated packaging of a single needle having an attached suture to produce a suture package, wherein said machine includes automatically winding said suture within a confine of a tray and attaching a cover to said tray so as to constitute said suture package, said machine having at least one tool nest for supporting said tray, and means for imparting a forwarding motion to said tool nest and said tray supported thereon for indexed advance to a plurality of workstations stationarily arranged proximate a path of advancing movement of said at least one tool nest;
- said arrangement comprising:
- (a) a first workstation including motive means for engaging said suture package located on a support surface of said at least one tool nest;
- compartmented tray means having a plurality of compartments being positionable at said workstation below said motive means, said motive means being actuatable to disengage said suture package from said support surface and convey said suture package into a respective said compartment.
A suture package unloading method for a machine for automated packaging of a single needle having an attached suture to produce a suture package, wherein said machine includes automatically winding said suture within a confine of a tray and attaching a cover to said tray so as to constitute said suture package, said machine having at least one tool nest for supporting said tray, and imparting a forwarding motion to said tool nest and said tray supported thereon for indexed advance to a plurality of workstations stationarily arranged proximate a path of advancing movement of said at least one tool nest;
- said method comprising:
- (a) at a first workstation having motive means for engaging said suture package located on a support surface of said at least one tool nest;
- compartment tray means having a plurality of compartments being positionable at said workstation below said motive means, said motive means being actualable to disengage said suture package from said support surface and convey said suture package into a respective said compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.