Abstract: An apparatus for cutting at least one end of a surgical suture is described. The apparatus comprises a first pair of feed rollers which advance the surgical suture through a hole (or opening) in a cutting assembly. The first pair of feed rollers is driven by a stepper motor. A second pair of friction rollers take up the slack (i.e., provide tension) to the surgical suture beyond the cutting assembly. The second pair of friction rollers is driven by an electric or stepper motor. The cutting assembly comprises an anvil plate in which the hole is positioned, and a razor blade which is placed in a movable bracket against the anvil plate. The cutting edge of the razor blade is driven by a spring across the hole and cuts the surgical suture. The spring is activated (and can be reactivated for repetitive steps) by an electric motor.

Abstract: The invention is a multifilament thermoplastic surgical suture having a plurality of meltfused filaments where the filaments are only melt fused for a controlled length from at least one end of the suture. This melt fused end invention eliminates the end dipping operation for multifilament sutures. Preferably, the melt fused or bonded length of suture has at least eighty percent of the tensile strength of an unfused portion, as a substitute for the end-dipped suture.

Abstract: An apparatus for melt fusing a length of multifilament thermoplastic surgical suture includes a radiant heater having a two part longitudinally divided tunnel. A length of multifilament material is advanced into the tunnel and is held in a stationary position under tension while being fused.