Tapered I-beam surgical needles
First Claim
1. A tapered surgical needle comprising a point section, a barrel section, and an intermediate body section joining the point and barrel sections, said point section exhibiting a rounded circumference at its terminus at the body section, said body section exhibiting, over a substantial portion of its length, a tapered region over which the shape of the needle undergoes a gradual transition from a rounded circumference at one end of said tapered region, to a rectangular cross-sectional shape at the other end of said tapered region, and a subregion intermediate said tapered region over which said tapered region exhibits a transition from a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape with four flat sides and rounded corners to a rectangular cross-sectional shape with sharp corners.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Surgical needles are described which exhibit a tapered region intermediate the point and barrel sections, over which the needles undergo a gradual transition in shape from a generally rounded circumference to a rectangular I-beam shape. The I-beam shape affords favorable strength characteristics and the gradual transition in shape smoothes the changes in penetration force performance.
134 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A tapered surgical needle comprising a point section, a barrel section, and an intermediate body section joining the point and barrel sections, said point section exhibiting a rounded circumference at its terminus at the body section, said body section exhibiting, over a substantial portion of its length, a tapered region over which the shape of the needle undergoes a gradual transition from a rounded circumference at one end of said tapered region, to a rectangular cross-sectional shape at the other end of said tapered region, and a subregion intermediate said tapered region over which said tapered region exhibits a transition from a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape with four flat sides and rounded corners to a rectangular cross-sectional shape with sharp corners.
Specification