Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Sardelis

Timothy A. Sardelis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Process for heat treating and tempering surgical needles
    Patent number: 5814166
    Abstract: A continuous process for heat treating and cleaning and tempering martensitic stainless steel surgical needles is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the surgical needles to a partial vacuum at a temperature less than the heat treating temperature to remove volatile surface contaminant. Then the needles are heat treated in an argon gas environment at a pressure equal to or greater than 1.0 Torr. Next the temperature of the oven is lowered to temper the needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Warren Ackerman, Timothy Sardelis, William McJames
  • Process for the heat treatment of surgical needles by aging
    Patent number: 5783001
    Abstract: A method of heat treating and cleaning maraging or precipitation hardening stainless steel surgical needles is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the surgical needles to a partial vacuum at a temperature less than the aging temperature to remove volatile surface contaminants. Then the needles are heat treated in an argon gas environment at a pressure equal to or greater than 1.0 atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Sardelis, Douglas Warren Ackerman, William McJames
  • Non-magnetic stainless steel surgical needle
    Patent number: 5730732
    Abstract: A non-magnetic surgical needle. The needle is made from Type 316 stainless steel or ERSTE 4456CA stainless steel and is work hardened to have mechanical properties substantially equivalent to a surgical needle made from conventional magnetic stainless steel. The needle is useful in the magnetic field of a magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Sardelis, William McJames
  • Means for predicting preformance of stainless steel alloy for use with surgical needles
    Patent number: 5651843
    Abstract: A new and useful predictor for maraging stainless steel alloys is created, called the martensite finish temperature, M.sub.f (.degree. F.). This formula enables one to predict the temperature at which a steel is entirely converted to martensite, and is described as M.sub.f =1027--78% Ni--27% Ti--34% Mo. A desirable needle alloy for this amount is nickel at 10%, molybdenum at about 2.7%, and titanium at about 2%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee P. Bendel, Timothy Sardelis, Lawrence P. Trozzo, Leon K. Stungurys, Hugo R. Florez, Jeffrey T. Lavin, Matthew J. McGrane, Jeffrey K. McVey
  • Cardiac pacing lead
    Patent number: 5350419
    Abstract: A novel cardiac pacing lead. The pacing lead has a conductive wire comprising a single filament of a low modulus metal. A surgical needle is mounted to a distal end of the wire and an electrode needle is mounted to the proximal end of the wire. An integral anchor is formed in a distal, uninsulated section of the wire for anchoring the pacing lead in heart muscle. The wire has a "hand" similar to multifilament wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee P. Bendel, Timothy A. Sardelis, Leon K. Stungurys, Thomas A. Astarita
  • I-beam needle having true I-beam cross-section
    Patent number: 5269806
    Abstract: A surgical needle having an I-beam configuration is disclosed. The surgical needle comprises an elongated member having an I-beam cross section wherein two opposed flange members are connected by a web member. The elongated member has a piercing point extending from its distal end. A cylindrical mounting section extends from the proximal end of the needle for receiving an end of a suture. The needle has increased resistance to bending and buckling when compared to conventional needles and does not have an increase in resistance or drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Sardelis, Paul J. Parisi, Lester E. Schaible, Lawrence P. Trozzo, Matthew L. Wolczynski
  • Nickel titanium martensitic steel for surgical needles
    Patent number: 5000912
    Abstract: A needle alloy wherein the nickel content is between 6.3% and 9.5%, the chromium content is between 11.5% and 12.5% and the molydenum content is between 3% and 4%. In addition, tantalum and titanium should be present at a combined level of no more than 2.1%. Favorable results from this alloy cause needles to have a greater than 400,000 psi ultimate tensile strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee P. Bendel, Timothy A. Sardelis
  • Hemostatic clips and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 4449530
    Abstract: Metallic, hemostatic clips providing a reduced gap when closed about a tubular vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee P. Bendel, Timothy Sardelis