Abstract: A delimited portion of suture material is immersed into a freezing media, such as liquid nitrogen, until the delimited portion is frozen. The frozen delimited portion is cut to provide a stiffened, non-brooming suture tip suitable for insertion into a needle bore. The cut, frozen suture tip is inserted into a needle and the needle is crimped to attach the suture to the needle. After attachment, the frozen suture tip returns to ambient temperature, reversing the effects of freezing the suture portion so that the suture adjacent the needle is as flexible as the remainder of the suture.

Abstract: A knife for use with surgical fastening instrument for applying fasteners to tissue, the knife including a nonlinear cutting edge having a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate between said first and said second portion, said first portion being positioned at least as distal as said intermediate portion. The cutting edge is configured to completely sever selected tissue while minimizing the potential for "wisping" of uncut or partially cut tissue away from the cutting edge.

Abstract: A delimited portion of suture material is immersed into a freezing media, such as liquid nitrogen, until the delimited portion is frozen. The frozen delimited portion is cut to provide a stiffened, non-brooming suture tip suitable for insertion into a needle bore. The cut, frozen suture tip is inserted into a needle and the needle is crimped to attach the suture to the needle. After attachment, the frozen suture tip returns to ambient temperature, reversing the effects of freezing the suture portion so that the suture adjacent the needle is as flexible as the remainder of the suture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine actuating system, which includes a hand actuator system which responds to the presence of at least one operator body part at a predetermined location by generating control signal and an actuator control system to actuate the machine in response to the control signal. Generally, the actuating system includes a pair of ergonomic support members, where one support member is configured and dimensioned for interactive association with the operator's left hand and the other support member is configured and dimensioned for interactive association with the operator's right hand, and a sensing system associated with each support member for sensing the presence of the operator's hands and generating the control signal.