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Needle and suture automatic pull-test system

  • US 5,487,308 A
  • Filed: 01/13/1994
  • Issued: 01/30/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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:

  • (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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