Back to results
US 7,937,981 B2Granted
Process for treating metal alloy surgical needles to improve bending stiffness
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsEugene D. Reynolds, Robert Maurer, Michael Nordmeyer, Frank R. Cichocki, Lester E. Schaible, Daniel J. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of mechanically treating alloy metal surgical needles to improve bending strength is disclosed. The needles are curved and reverse-curved in this method to improve bending strength.
Claims7
A method of treating a metal alloy surgical needle, comprising:
- providing a metal alloy wire needle or blank, wherein the needle blank comprises a refractory metal alloy;
- forming the needle or blank into an initial curved configuration having a first radius;
- and,
- forming the needle or blank to a desired curved configuration by substantially reverse-curving the initial curved configuration into a final curved configuration having a second radius, wherein the second radius is greater than the first radius, and wherein the needle or blank has a reshape ductility,
- thereby improving the bending stiffness properties of the finished curved needle or blank.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.