Abstract: A method for forming blunt surgical needles having a radiused tip includes tumbling the surgical needles in a tumbling medium for a period of time sufficient to achieve a desired radius on the tip of the needle. The needles to be radiused may be taper pointed needles, taper pointed needles with a portion of the tip removed, or partially completed tapered needles. Tumbling may be performed in one or more tumbling steps using abrasive and/or burnishing media If an abrasive tumbling operation is used, preferably a second tumbling operation is performed with a hard, smooth medium which burnishes rather than abrades the needle. The tumbling media used to form a radius on the needle tip preferably is wet and can be acidic, neutral, or alkaline. The radiused needles may be polished by subsequent tumbling in a substantially dry tumbling medium.

Abstract: Apparatus for grinding tapers and points on elongated needle workpieces having frame means and needle workpiece transport means associated with the frame means for transporting a plurality of the workpieces. The workpiece transport means has a predetermined curvature and workpiece feeder means is mounted adjacent the frame means for feeding workpieces to the workpiece transport means. The grinding means is preferably a grinding wheel disposed adjacent the workpiece transport means to engage workpieces while supported by workpiece supporting means and has a major diameter at a first end and a minor diameter at a second end, the major diameter being greater than the minor diameter. The diameters are connected by a curved grinding surface the diameter of which increases progressively therebetween.

Abstract: Surgical needles are produced from martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel and then vacuum heat treated and vacuum cooled to increase its tensile strength while retaining the polished surface of the needle. A needle made by this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for grinding tapered points on needles is disclosed. The apparatus has a frame and a transport associated with the frame for transporting a plurality of needles. The transport has a predetermined curvature and a feeder is mounted adjacent the frame for feeding needles to the transport. A grinding wheel is disposed adjacent the transport and has a major diameter at a first end and a minor diameter at a second end, the major diameter being greater than the minor diameter and connected by a curved grinding surface the diameter of which increases progressively therebetween. The curvature of the grinding wheel in a first third portion between the major and minor diameters is of greater mean curvature than the mean curvature of the corresponding opposed portion of the transport. A second third portion of the grinding wheel is of greater mean curvature than the mean curvature of the corresponding opposed portion of the transport.

Abstract: Point-grinding apparatus comprising frame means, workpiece transport means operably mounted on the frame means for transporting a plurality of elongated workpieces therealong, workpiece support means disposed adjacent the transport means for supporting the elongated workpieces in contact with the transport means and grinding means including an asymmetrical concave grinding surface disposed adjacent the transport means to engage workpieces supported by the workpiece supporting means, the asymmetrical concave grinding surface being configured and dimensioned such that a surface area of each workpiece which contacts the grinding surface varies relative to the position of the workpiece with respect to the grinding surface. A method for grinding needle points is also provided including the steps of, providing a rotating grinding wheel having an asymmetrical concave grinding surface and feeding at least one workpiece to a first position such that each at least one workpiece is advanced along the grinding surface.

Abstract: Surgical needles are produced from martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel and then vacuum heat treated and vacuum cooled to increase its tensile strength while retaining the polished surface of the needle. A needle made by this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: Point-grinding apparatus comprising frame means, workpiece transport means operably mounted on the frame means for transporting a plurality of elongated workpieces therealong, workpiece support means disposed adjacent the transport means for supporting the elongated workpieces in contact with the transport means and grinding means including an asymmetrical concave grinding surface disposed adjacent the transport means to engage workpieces supported by the workpiece supporting means, the asymmetrical concave grinding surface being configured and dimensioned such that a surface area of each workpiece which contacts the grinding surface varies relative to the position of the workpiece with respect to the grinding surface. A method for grinding needle points is also provided including the steps of, providing a rotating grinding wheel having an asymmetrical concave grinding surface and feeding at least one workpiece to a first position such that each at least one workpiece is advanced along the grinding surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming curved needles from needle blanks of differing sizes and material characteristics having a guide die, driven by a linear actuator, for biasing the needle blank against a forming surface. Bending dies also driven by linear actuators are provided for bending the ends of the needle blank around the top of the forming surface. Adjusting micrometers are provided to adjust the contact point at which the bending dies contact the needle blank. The apparatus can therefore be readily adapted for differing needle stocks. The entire bending process is automated so that uniform needles may be rapidly produced.

Abstract: Metallic workpieces, such as surgical needles, which have been washed with an aqueous solution are dried by subjecting the workpieces to heat and reduced pressure in the presence of an inert gas.