Abstract: An automated machine for attaching a suture to a surgical needle having a suture receiving opening formed therein, and for packaging the same in a package tray comprises a first workstation including a device for sorting a plurality of needles and orienting each needle for automatic feeding to a second swaging workstation, a second workstation including a device for automatically cutting an indefinite length of suture material to a definite length and a device for automatically swaging the needle to close the suture receiving opening about a free end of the suture to secure the suture thereto and form a needle-suture assembly, a needle packaging station including a device for sequentially receiving at least one of the needle-suture assemblies in a package tray in synchronism with the second workstation, the needle packaging station having a device for automatically winding the depending suture portion of the needle-suture assembly into the package tray, a first indexing device for sequentially receiving indiv

Abstract: An automated machine for the high-speed packaging of multiple surgical needles each with an attached suture into a tray and detachable cover structure providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the needles and attached sutures. Additionally, the automated packaging machine incorporates operative mechanism adapted to wind the sutures into a peripheral channel of the tray and facilitating the attachment of the cover to the tray which contains the needles and attached wound sutures, and from which cover there is concurrently formed a separate product-identifying label as a component of the tray upon removal of the cover to gain access to the contents of the tray.

Abstract: A one piece needle and suture holder is described in which a rounded channel is formed for retention of the suture. One end of the suture exits the channel toward the interior of the channel and is attached to a needle located in a needle holder in the interior of the channel. The channel is formed with an open side, to which are attached a plurality of hinged doors. After the suture is wound in the open channel, the doors are folded over the open side of the channel and are locked in place to retain the suture within the channel. In an alternative embodiment a paper cover is utilized to complete the enclosing channel. To afford ease of winding the suture the bottom of the channel is perforated for the application of a vacuum to the channel during suture winding. Also disclosed is a needle park for retaining the needle in the center of the package.

Abstract: A suture package is designed to facilitate automated loading of multiple needles and sutures into the package. The package includes a tray, for containing the needles and sutures, and a cover. The sutures are contained in a peripheral channel of the tray and an array of resilient cantilevered fingers prevent the sutures from lifting up out of the channel. Needle parks retain the needles that are attached to the sutures. In another embodiment of the invention, a package for retaining a wound suture and attached needle includes a tray for containing the needle and suture, including cover-latching elements that each have two vertical surfaces. Tabs on the removable cover each contact a surface of a corresponding latching element and have a free element that engages a shoulder of the element.

Abstract: An easy loading suture package contains sutures in a channel near the periphery of the package. Resilient cantilevered fingers extend most of the way across the channel to prevent any part of the suture from coming up out of the channel either during or after loading of the suture into the package. A needle park retains a needle attached to one end of the suture. The package lends itself to fabrication by molding and is adapted for automated loading and convenient, reliable dispensing.

Abstract: A one piece needle and suture holder is described in which a rounded channel is formed for retention of the suture. One end of the suture exits the channel toward the interior of the channel and is attached to a needle located in a needle holder in the interior of the channel. The channel is formed with an open side, to which are attached a plurality of hinged doors. After the suture is wound in the open channel, the doors are folded over the open side of the channel and are locked in place to retain the suture within the channel. In an alternative embodiment a paper cover is utilized to complete the enclosing channel. To afford ease of winding the suture the bottom of the channel is preforated for the application of a vacuum to the channel during suture winding. Also disclosed is a needle park for retaining the needle in the center of the package.

Abstract: A one piece needle and suture holder is described in which a rounded channel is formed for retention of the suture. One end of the suture exits the channel toward the interior of the channel and is attached to a needle located in a needle holder in the interior of the channel. The channel is formed with an open side, to which are attached a plurality of hinged doors. After the suture is wound in the open channel, the doors are folded over the open side of the channel and are locked in place to retain the suture within the channel. In an alternative embodiment a paper cover is utilized to complete the enclosing channel. To afford ease of winding the suture the bottom of the channel is perforated for the application of a vacuum to the channel during suture winding. Also disclosed is a needle park for retaining the needle in the center of the package.

Abstract: A one piece needle and suture holder is described in which a rounded channel is formed for retention of the suture. One end of the suture exits the channel toward the interior of the channel and is attached to a needle located in a needle holder in the interior of the channel. The channel is formed with an open side, to which are attached a plurality of hinged doors. After the suture is wound in the open channel, the doors are folded over the open side of the channel and are locked in place to retain the suture within the channel. In an alternative embodiment a paper cover is utilized to complete the enclosing channel. To afford ease of winding the suture the bottom of the channel is perforated for the application of a vacuum to the channel during suture winding. Also disclosed is a needle park for retaining the needle in the center of the package.

Abstract: A method of improving the surface lubricity of extruded thermoplastic tubing for inclusion in medical devices wherein the tubing is intended for insertion into the human body includes providing a finite section of hollow extruded thermoplastic tubing which has been cooled to room temperature following an extrusion process. The tubing has a first lubricity level on its outer surface. The method steps further include maintaining the tubing substantially at room temperature conditions and applying a longitudinal stretching force to the tubing sufficient to exceed the elastic limit of the tubing whereby the tubing is deformed from its original dimensions. This stretching produces a second lubricity level on the outer surface of the tubing which is an improvement over the first lubricity level so that the tubing may slide more clearly and with less friction during insertion.

Abstract: A pneumatic remote sensing device having a passageway, a connecting tube connected to the downstream end of the passageway, and blockage means for preventing or permitting the escape of gas from the downstream end of the connecting tube. The passageway includes a venturi section, and means for detecting the pressure within the venturi section and producing an output signal dependent on that pressure are provided. Gas under a supply pressure can be introduced at the upstream end of the passageway. Thus, so long as the blockage means are open, the gas can flow through the passageway and the connecting tube, and the pressure within the venturi section of the passageway will remain low. However, when the blockage means close and prevent the escape of gas from the downstream end of the connecting tube, the pressure in the venturi section rises rapidly and the detector means produces an output signal indicative of the closure of the blockage means almost instantaneously after such closure occurs.

Abstract: A rotary printing screen, for mounting in a rotary screen printing machine, which has a support member at each end of its screen cylinder. The support member uniformly supports each endring against the longitudinal tension applied to the screen cylinder by the tensioning device so that the endrings remain in parallel. The support member, made from a heat-shrinkable plastic, such as polyethylene terephthalate, is selectively a heat-shrunk plastic sleeve or a heat-shrunk device endwise extension of the screen cylinder. Each embodiment extends over at least a portion of the shoulder of the endring to form a lip which has progressively greater thickness and decreasing circumference, terminating in a circular bead. As a sleeve, the support member fits over each terminal portion of the screen cylinder and covers its adhesive joint with the underlying cylindrical surface of the endring.