System and method for forming barbs on a suture
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsNicholas Maiorino, Timothy Kosa, Mark Buchter, Keith Kroeber, Richard Casey Hart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A station for cutting a barb suture is provided. The barb cutting station includes a suture transport assembly for supporting a first suture, a first knife assembly for forming barbs on the first suture, and a first clamp and position assembly for approximating the at least first suture towards the at least first knife assembly. The barb cutting station may further include at least a first suture cutting mechanism configured for severing the at least first suture when a defect is detected. The station may also include at least a first visual inspection assembly configured for detecting defective barbs.
Claims19
A barb cutting station comprising:
- a suture transport assembly configured to engage a first end of a suture and a second end of a suture, the suture transport assembly including an upper support configured to engage a loop on the first end of the suture and a lower support configured to engage a needle on the second end of the suture;
- a clamp and position assembly positioned to clamp a portion of the suture between the first end of the suture and the second end of the suture;
- and
- a knife assembly including a knife, the clamp and position assembly moveable to contact a portion of the suture between the first end of the suture and the second end of the suture with the knife to cut a barb into a surface of the suture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.