Process for heating and cutting a surgical suture tip

A method for heating and cutting a suture tip formed form a length of unfinished surgical suture material, comprising the steps of:

• (A) positioning said length of unfinished surgical suture material at a combined heating and cutting location between a first face of a first heating die and a second face of a second heating die;
• (B) after step (A), moving said first heating die from a retracted to an extended position and moving said second heating die from a retracted position to an extended position in order to form a length of suture tip material, said first face of said first heating die being against said second face of said second heating die when said first heating die is in its extended position and said second heating die is in its extended position;
• (C) after step (B), exposing said length of suture tip material positioned at said combined heating and cutting location by moving said first heating die from its extended to its retracted position and moving said second heating die from its extended to its retracted position;
• and
• (D) while said length of suture tip material is positioned at said combined heating and cutting location, moving a cutting blade across a cross-section of said length of suture tip material.