Needle and suture automatic pull-test system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for automatically testing the swage bond strength of an armed needle having a suture strand depending from a suture receiving end thereof, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) blade means for supporting said suture receiving end of said armed needle when a positive downward gravitational force of predetermined controllable value is applied to said suture strand, said blade means having at least one suture receiving guide therein;
(b) indexing means for releasably engaging said armed needle and for positioning said armed needle at said blade means to enable said suture strand to be received within said suture receiving guide thereof; and
(c) gripping means for positively gripping said suture strand at a first position below said suture receiving opening of said blade means, said gripping means including a vertically suspended slide block means consisting of a mass of predetermined weight for applying said positive downward force of predetermined value to said gripped suture strand, said gripping means and said slide block means being vertically slidably mounted along a fixed mounting means, said fixed mounting means being positioned substantially parallel with a vertical axis defined by said suture strand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic pull-testing apparatus for testing the strength of an armed surgical needle comprises a supporting blade for supporting a suture receiving end of the armed needle and having at least one suture receiving guide therein. A first gripping device is provided for releasably retaining the armed needle in an oriented position, and for positioning the armed needle at the supporting blade to enable the suture strand depending therefrom to be threaded at the suture receiving guide. A second suture gripping device grips the suture at a position below the suture receiving guide of the supporting blade. A slide block counterweighted to a predetermined weight is connected to the second suture gripping device for applying a controlled positive downward force upon the suture strand. When the first gripping device releases its grip upon the armed needle and the second gripping device and the slide block is released, a positive downward force is applied to the suture strand to perform a minimum pull-test of the armed needle. A destructive pull test is also performed by a device that generates a positive force against the slide block that is sufficient to dislodge the suture from the needle.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for automatically testing the swage bond strength of an armed needle having a suture strand depending from a suture receiving end thereof, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) blade means for supporting said suture receiving end of said armed needle when a positive downward gravitational force of predetermined controllable value is applied to said suture strand, said blade means having at least one suture receiving guide therein; (b) indexing means for releasably engaging said armed needle and for positioning said armed needle at said blade means to enable said suture strand to be received within said suture receiving guide thereof; and (c) gripping means for positively gripping said suture strand at a first position below said suture receiving opening of said blade means, said gripping means including a vertically suspended slide block means consisting of a mass of predetermined weight for applying said positive downward force of predetermined value to said gripped suture strand, said gripping means and said slide block means being vertically slidably mounted along a fixed mounting means, said fixed mounting means being positioned substantially parallel with a vertical axis defined by said suture strand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for automatically testing the attachment strength of an armed surgical needle having a suture strand depending therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a suture receiving end of said armed needle above a blade means for supporting said needle, wherein a first gripper means is gripping said armed needle in an oriented position above said blade means; (b) positively gripping said depending suture strand at a first position below said blade means with a second gripper means, said second gripper means having a predetermined weight means connected thereto; and (c) generating a positive downward gravitational force upon said suture strand gripped by said second gripper means while concurrently releasing said armed needle from the grip of said first gripper means to enable said weight means to impart a downward tensile force to said needle and suture. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification