Abstract: Process for preparing a pointed device by a photochemical process by coating the top and bottom surfaces of a sheet material with a light-sensitive photoresist, exposing the photoresist with light through a light-impenetrable mask in the form of an image of the device shaped with a blunt end at the tip of the point to compensate for lateral etching during the etching step, said image on the top surface being slightly offset relative to the image on the bottom surface, further exposing with light a portion of the image of the point of the device on the top surface of the sheet material, said exposure conforming generally to a V-shaped configuration running along the inside perimeter of the point, removing exposed photoresist, and then contacting the treated sheet material with an etchant to remove material not protected by the remaining photoresist.

Abstract: Surgical needles are produced by a process which comprises the steps of:(a) coating at least one side of a metal sheet with a light sensitive photoresist;(b) exposing the photoresist with light in the image of a plurality of surgical needles, each needle having a pointed end and a suture attachment end;(c) removing the unexposed photoresist, to thereby leave in place on the metal sheet hardened photoresist in the image of a plurality of surgical needles;(d) exposing the product of step (c) to an etchant to remove metal not protected by said hardened photoresist, to thereby form a plurality of surgical needles.

Abstract: Surgical needles are produced by a process which comprises the steps of:(a) coating at least one side of a metal sheet with a light sensitive photoresist;(b) exposing the photoresist with light in the image of a plurality of surgical needles, each needle having a pointed end and a suture attachment end;(c) removing the unexposed photoresist, to thereby leave in place on the metal sheet hardened photoresist in the image of a plurality of surgical needles;(d) exposing the product of step (c) to an etchant to remove metal not protected by said hardened photoresist, to thereby form a plurality of surgical needles.

Abstract: Sucrose and/or lactose is employed as a nucleating agent in polydioxanone polymer in the preparation of absorbable shaped articles made from polydioxanone.

Abstract: A method is provided for anchoring a suture to a needle in which a suture tip is inserted into a recess in the blunt end of a needle and the needle is thereafter heated to expand the suture tip within the recess into tight engagement with the recess walls. Sutures of synthetic polymers attached in this manner are removable from the needle by application of a straight pulling force of less than about 30 ounces.