Surgical tipping apparatus

• US 6,306,157 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shchervinsky, Semyon
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, TAN-UYEN THI
• Application Number:
  US09/580,691
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 606/224, 606/228, 606/231, 606/222, 606/225, 606/148, 156/494, 156/510, 156/580.2, 156/93.2, 156/73.2, 156/296, 156/180, 156/251, 425/411
• US Class Current: 606/224
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06195 Apparatus or means for preparing the cut end of the suture thread to be attached to the needle, e.g. tipping to prevent brooming A61B17/06004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0619 thermoplastic, e.g. for bonding, welding, fusing or cutting the suture by melting it suture cutters A61B17/0467; ultrasonic cutters A61B17/320068; electrically heated instruments A61B18/08
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/008 Using vibrations during moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 57/00 Shaping of tube ends, e.g. flanging, belling or closing; Apparatus therefor , e.g. collapsible mandrels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7443 by means of ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/0042 of the joining tool and the parts to be joined B29C66/0046 takes precedence; joining tool characterized by its composition B29C66/8122; joining tool characterized by its microstructure B29C66/8124
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/69 General aspects of joining filaments bundling articles B65B13/00; interconnecting successive lengths of material B65H69/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8122 characterised by the composition of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8161 said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8242 Pneumatic or hydraulic drives using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83411 Roller, cylinder or drum types B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83511 jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9513 characterised by specific vibration frequency values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9517 characterised by specific vibration amplitude values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/96 characterised by the method for implementing the controlling of the joining process
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2827/18 PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluorethene, e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluorethene

Abstract

An apparatus and method for ultrasonically forming a surgical suture tip from a length of unfinished surgical suture material. The apparatus includes a first tipping die having a first face for contacting a portion of the length of unfinished surgical suture material. A second tipping die having a second face is also provided. The first and second die also having extending therefrom a first member and a second member. The first and second dies cooperate with the first and second members to form a length of suture. At least one mechanical actuator is provided for moving the first face of the first tipping die and the third face of the first member toward the second face of the second tipping die and the fourth face of the second member. A second actuator vibrates at least one of the first and second tipping dies at an ultrasonic frequency of about 15 KHz to about 70 KHz. The method of ultrasonically forming a suture tip comprises the positioning a surgical suture between the first, second, third and fourth faces of the tipping apparatus then vibrating the dies at an appropriate frequency.

Claims

1. A method for ultrasonically forming a tip portion of a surgical suture, comprising

positioning a tip portion of a surgical suture material at a location between a first die face, a second die face, a third die face and a fourth die face of an ultrasonic welding device;

contacting said tip portion with said first die face, said second die face, said third die face, and said fourth die face of said ultrasonic welding device to form said tip portion into a shape capable of being inserted into a needle; and

vibrating at least one of said die faces at an ultrasonic frequency of about 15 KHz to 70 KHz for a time sufficient to ultrasonically weld said tip portion of said surgical suture into said shape.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first die face and third die face are advanced to contact said second and fourth die faces.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first die face, said second die face, said third die face, and fourth die face cooperate to compress the surgical suture.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein after said suture is welded into the desired shape said first die face, said second die face, said third die face and fourth die face are separated from said suture and said suture is cut to the desired length.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said suture is formed to provide a circular cross-section.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein after said suture is welded into the desired shape said first die face, said second die face, said third die face and fourth die face are separated from said suture and said suture is attached to a needle.