Abstract: An apparatus for determining the bending characteristics of a curved surgical needle having a butt end portion and a tip portion including a base support, a clamp for releasably gripping the butt end portion of the needle. A system of stepper motors and related plates is provided for moving the gripped needle along a predetermined path. A load cell is positioned within the predetermined path for engagement by the tip of the needle and for sensing the forces generated by the moving needle tip, and a minimal friction support plate is provided for the load cell to maintain the needle tip at a predetermined location on the load cell while moving the gripped needle.

Abstract: A device for evaluating the surface contour of various body parts which may measure surface elevation or depth of depressions and cavities. The device includes a body portion having a plurality of legs extending downwardly to position the device on a body part such as the skull. A slidable member having a calibrated scale thereon is positioned in a slot in the body of the device. An indexer is provided to indicate the distance the slidable member moves so that surface elevations or depressions may be evaluated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to determine the sharpness of a curved surgical needle point by a measurement of the perpendicular forces required to push the needle point through a supported membrane at a given rate of penetration. The apparatus includes a needle penetration fixture having a needle penetrable membrane, a load cell, and related control and recordation instrumentation. According to the method a needle is mounted on a rotatable fixture and first precisely aligned. Thereafter, the fixture is rotated so as to cause the needle to penetrate the membrane whereby the force necessary to penetrate the membrane force being recorded by recordation instrumentation and the process being controlled by control instrumentation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for determining the bending strength of curved surgical needles. The apparatus includes a means to releasably grip the butt end portion of the needle connected to a rotatable flywheel. A knife edge is positioned in the path of the rotating needle and engaged thereby, while a load cell to which the knife edge is connected, generates signals in dependence upon the bending movements applied to the needle. Such signals are transmitted to appropriate monitoring and recording instrumentation. The rotation of the needle with respect to a center of rotation and with respect to the knife edge are maintained to within precise limitations.